Twins vs Royals Prediction - MLB Picks 7/29/23

Kansas City Royals (30-75) vs Minnesota Twins (54-51)

Game Info: Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 7:10 pm (Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium)

Jordan Lyles (1-12) (6.02) vs Bailey Ober (6-4) (2.76)

Betting Odds: Kansas City Royals +145 / Minnesota Twins -190 --- Over/Under: 8.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The Kansas City Royals will host the Minnesota Twins for game two of their divisional series this Saturday from Kauffman Stadium. KC took game one in extras with a grand slam, 8-5.

Twins Preview & Projected Starter

Minnesota moved to 54-51 after losing to Kansas City. The Twins rallied to tie in the ninth last night, but they’d end up letting it slip away, and they’ll attempt to regroup Saturday. Rocco Baldelli’s club is currently first in the AL Central, and they hold a two game lead over Cleveland. The Minnesota offense is scoring 3.47 runs per game, while batting .237, with a .315 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 3.58 ERA, with a 1.18 WHIP.

Bailey Ober (6-4, 2.76 ERA, 90 Ks) will take the mound for Minnesota. The third-year righty was solid in his matchup with Chicago last time out, striking out six in six innings of work, while holding the Sox to two runs. Ober has played a big part in Minnesota holding the division lead, as eight of his last nine outings have resulted in quality starts. Ober did well in his one matchup versus KC back in late April, striking out six in 5.2 innings en route to a Twins win.

Twins Player Props

• Carlos Correa has collected a hit in five of the previous six games, and he leads the Twins in hits (83) and RBI (45), with twelve home runs.

• Production outside of Correa has been obsolete and inconsistent, as the Twins have struggled and been hit by the injury bug.

• Longtime Twin Max Kepler has doubled in three of the last five games, and he’s totaled fourteen homers and 38 RBI for the season.

• Alex Kirilloff has cooled off after a hot week of ball, but he still leads Minnesota in batting (.271), while tallying 32 RBI.

• Byron Buxton and Joey Gallo are both tied for the team-lead in home runs at 17, but they’ve offered nothing more, as they both bat below .200.

Royals Preview & Projected Starter

Kansas City comes in at 30-75 after defeating Minnesota. The Royals walked off on the Twins last night, and they’ll look to steal another divisional win Saturday. Matt Quataro’s squad rests in the cellar of the AL Central, as 2023 has been a work in progress for the organization. Kansas City offense is scoring 3.62 runs per game, while batting .233, with a .293 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 5.25 ERA, with a 1.43 WHIP.

Jordan Lyles (1-12, 6.19 ERA, 69 Ks) will take the mound for Kansas City. The tenth-year pitcher was tossed around in the Bronx last time out, allowing five runs in five innings to take his twelve loss of the season. Pitching at Yankee Stadium is never easy, and it wound up leaving another stain on Lyles’ abysmal season. Lyles has pitched well in division, so the Twins have to look alive here.

Royals Player Props

• Bobby Witt Jr. racked up four hits and smashed a grand slam to give KC the game one victory, and leads the team in hits (107), homers (17) and RBI (57).

• Maikel Garcia has totaled multiple bases in four of the previous five contests, and he leads the Royals in batting (.273), with 30 RBI.

• Salvador Perez has recorded a hit in four of the last five games, and he’s second on the team with 17 home runs and 43 RBI.

• MJ Melendez has collected a hit in eight of his last ten games, and he’s totaled 35 RBI for the season.

Corey’s Free Pick

If it were not for Bailey Ober going, I’d support the degen play of testing Kansas City here. The Royals don’t have the names, but they’ve got a lineup on par with the Twins, as they do a lot better job of making contact. Minnesota managing to maintain this division lead is a sole testament to the work their rotation has done, and I’m comfortable leaning on that here. Let’s roll with the Twins in a bounce back effort here Saturday.