Apr 22, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (49) looks on before delivering a pitch in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been a rough start to the year for the Kansas City Royals who find themselves in last place in the AL Central. The team in first is the Minnesota Twins who host the Royals for a four-game series this weekend. The Twins have a small lead on Cleveland and a real chance to separate themselves against the team with the second worst record in the AL.
For Game 2 on Friday afternoon, the Royals will hand the ball to Jordan Lyles and the Twins counter with Pablo Lopez. Lyles is 0-4 with a 4.88 ERA and Lopez is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA. The Twins are favorites to get the win, but let’s take a look at the complete odds.
Royals vs. Twins odds, run line and total
Royals vs. Twins prediction and pick
Last time out, Lopez got hit hard by another one of the worst teams in baseball, so he’s liable to get roughed up by KC, but I’m expecting a bounce back performance. On April 22, he gave up five earned runs on eight hits to the Nationals in just four innings of work. However, he still has a stellar ERA and an even better FIP. Those are just the start of his impressive numbers.
Lopez has an xERA of 2.79, a strikeout rate in the 89th percentile in baseball, an 85th percentile whiff rate and 97th percentile chase rate. He’s going to cruise against the Royals who are 29th in baseball in team OPS.
On the other side, the Twins have a .792 OPS with 10 home runs in the last seven days, both are near the best in baseball. Jorge Polanco has an OPS north of 1.000 over that stretch and he and the rest of the Twins should have success against Jordan Lyles who has allowed seven home runs in five starts.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change