The Minnesota Twins will visit the Kansas City Royals on Saturday in the second game of a three-game season-opening series. The Twins were able to pick a 2-0 victory on Opening Day thanks to a pair of sixth-inning RBI singles. Minnesota used five pitchers to shut down Kansas City’s offense, allowing just two hits. The Twins finished 2022 with a 78-84 record, while the Royals were just 65-97. The teams finished third and fifth in the AL Central, respectively. Minnesota won the season series, taking 12 of 19 games.
Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | ML |
| Minnesota Twins | -1.5 (+100) | Over 8.5 (-102) | -165 |
| Kansas City Royals | +1.5 (-120) | Under 8.5 (-120) | +140 |
Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Match Details
Fixture: Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals
Date & Time: Saturday, April 1st, 4:10 p.m. EDT
Venue: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Sonny Gray will get the start for the Minnesota Twins. The two-time All-Star had a strong season in 2022. However, he made just 24 starts. Gray finished the season with an 8-5 record and a 3.08 ERA. He struck out 117 batters over 119.2 innings pitched. In three starts against the Kansas City Royals, Gray was 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA. He struck out 22 Royals, allowing just one run over 19.0 innings pitched. Gray will face a lineup that scored the seventh-fewest runs in 2022. He should be in line for a strong start to his 2023 season.
The Kansas City Royals will start 13-year veteran Jordan Lyles. The Royals will mark the eighth team Lyles has started for, including two stints with the Milwaukee Brewers. Lyles was an inning-eater for the Baltimore Orioles in 2022, making 32 starts. He had a 12-11 record and a 4.42 ERA. In 179.0 innings pitched, Lyles struck out 144 batters. He made one start against Minnesota in 2022, allowing just one run in 6 1/3 innings while striking out seven.
Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Betting Prediction
The Kansas City Royals offense struggled tremendously in the season-opening matchup with the Minnesota Twins. The Royals were able to muster just two hits while striking out 11 times. After being shut down by Pablo Lopez on Thursday, Kansas City will face another tough challenge in Sonny Gray. Look for Gray to shut down the Royals lineup as the Twins win by at least two runs.
