MLB Odds – Royals vs Twins

Ask any Minnesota fan, and they’ll all tell you the same: The opening of the Target Field was a smash success, as the Twins took two of three games from the Red Sox at their new ballpark. Can the leaders of the AL Central continue to stay hot in Friday night’s betting odds?

Kansas City Royals (4-5 SU, 5-4 R/L, 7-2 O/U) at Minnesota Twins (7-3 SU, 6-4 R/L, 2-6-1 O/U)

Friday, April 16: 8:10 p.m.

MLB Betting Odds:

Kansas City: +1 ½, -195, +110
(Zack Greinke-R)

Minnesota: -1 ½, +165, -130
(Scott-Baker)

Run Total:

Over 7 ½: Even
Under 7 ½: -120

On Friday, Minnesota welcomes Kansas City, and their 2009 Cy Young Award winning pitcher Zach Greinke to town. Greinke was phenomenal last year, going 16-8, with a microscopic 2.16 ERA, which led all of baseball. Compared to those lofty standards, Greinke has struggled in 2010, although “struggle,” is definitely a relative term. As of right now, he’s 0-1, with a 3.55 ERA.

Opposing Greinke on the mound will be Minnesota’s top starter, Scott Baker. Much like Greinke, Baker got off to a bit of a slow start in 2010, getting roughed up by the Angels in his first appearance of the season. However, he recovered nicely in start No. 2, pitching seven innings and giving up just one earned runn against Chicago last Saturday.

The key to this game, will be which of these two teams offenses shows up, and certainly looking at the two, the advantage would seem to go to Minnesota. Obviously we all know about last years MVP Joe Mauer, who is already off to a nice start this year with a .353 average, but he’s not the only one getting it done in Minnesota, as this team averages close to five runs a game.

However, make sure not to sleep on the Royals either. They’ve got a pair of the offensive surprises of the young season so far, as outfielder Jose Guillen, is second in the American League with five home runs, and has also driven in nine runs. Center fielder Scott Podsednik has also been a heck of a table setter, as he is leading the American League with a .457 batting average so far.

And when you combine this surprising offense with an excellent pitcher like Greinke, it seems like a perfect recipe for an upset in the MLB betting odds.

Kansas City may still not be a true contender, but no longer a team that you can expect to beat every time they take the field against you.

Take them, in a low scoring, betting odds victory.

Aaron’s Pick: +110, Under 7 ½ runs