Free MLB Picks Today: Kansas City Royals vs Minnesota Twins 9/20/22

The Kansas City Royals (58-89) host the Minnesota Twins (73-74) at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game series. The Twins are in the midst of an eight-game road trip. They won only one out of five in their last series against the Guardians, dropping the finale 11-4 on Monday at Progressive Field. Nick Gordon was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Carlos Correa added one run on two hits. The Royals are playing the first of six games at home after returning from a tough six-game road trip (1-5). They lost two of three against the Red Sox in their last series, dropping the finale 13-3 on Sunday at Fenway Park. Salvador Perez went 2 for 4 with a solo home run.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Twins have won 12 of 16 in the season series between the AL Central rivals, including a 3-2 victory in their most recent meeting on Thursday at Target Field. Trevor Megill got the win with one scoreless inning out of the bullpen, and Jhoan Duran earned his seventh save with a scoreless ninth.

ON THE MOUND

Dylan Bundy (8-7, 4.68 ERA) is slated to start for Minnesota. The right-hander gets the Royals for the second successive start. He allowed two runs over four innings on Thursday, a 3-2 road win. He gave up four hits while striking out two in the no-decision. For Kansas City, right-hander Zack Greinke (4-9, 4.10 ERA) will toe the rubber. He has made four appearances against the Twins this season, all as the starter, giving up 12 runs (10 ER) over 19 innings (0-4, 4.74) with nine strikeouts and six walks. In his last start on Wednesday, Greinke took the loss on the road against the Twins. He threw four innings and gave up three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking three in the 4-0 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

The Minnesota offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .248/.316/.405. Correa leads the team in OPS at .825. The shortstop is slashing .283/.360/.465 with 21 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 66 runs over 123 games. Against righties like Greinke this season, the Twins have a .726 OPS. Luis Arraez is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a .832 OPS in 398 at-bats. Kansas City is slashing .242/.305/.375 for the season and averaging 3.9 runs per game. Bobby Witt Jr. leads the team with a .724 OPS. The shortstop has 20 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 73 runs scored with a slash line of .248/.289/.434. The Royals have a .667 OPS against right-handers in 2022, fourth lowest in MLB. With a .714 OPS over 403 at-bats, Witt Jr. also has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Minnesota is 30-42 away from home in 2022, scoring 4.4 runs per game while allowing 4.6 runs. Kansas City has gone 34-41 at home this season, averaging 4.0 runs per game while surrendering 5.0. Minnesota is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium with an average scoreline of 4.9-3.4.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Twins are third in the AL Central, six games behind the division-leading Guardians. They are sixth in the Wild Card race, seven games out of third. The Royals are fourth in the AL Central, 21 games behind the Guardians.