The Minnesota Twins (+625 to win World Series) have been so dominant this season, despite middle-of-the-road pitching. That’s because of their red-hot offense that will look to show its power once again in a three-game series versus the Kansas City Royals at home. The Royals are arguably the worst team in the majors right now, and appear to be deers in the Twins’ headlights. But will the Twins (+200000) shock and humble Minnesota?
Keller had a solid effort in his last start, albeit in a 2-0 home loss to the Chicago White Sox n Jun. 8. Keller went eight innings deep and allowed two earned runs on five hits. There was simply no offense behind Keller that night. Keller has given up more than three earned runs just once over his past four starts. Gibson blanked the Tampa Bay Rays on Jun. 1 in five innings of a 6-2 win on the road before taking a loss to the Detroit Tigers, also on the road, on Jun. 8. Against the Tigers, Gibson allowed five earned runs on eight hits in a 9-3 loss. Gibson is 3-0 with a 3.24 ERA in four home starts this season.
Sparkman gets the call to start again for the Royals this coming Saturday. In his last mound appearance, Sparkman allowed two earned runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings of a 5-2 home loss to the White Sox. He has an 8.22 ERA in four appearances on the road this season. Odorizzi lowered his ERA further by smoking the Tigers on Jun. 9, allowing just an earned run on five hits with eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings of a 12-2 road win. Odorizzi is 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA in six home starts this season.
Hitting
Alex Gordon is 5-for-15 in career vs. Odorizzi.
Twins hitters have a .333 career batting average against Sparkman.
Prediction: Twins win, 5-2.
GAME 3
Starters: Jakob Junis (4-6, 5.63 ERA) vs. Martin Perez (7-2, 3.72 ERA)
Pitching:
Junis got pummeled hard in his last start, as he got tagged for five earned runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings of an 8-0 home loss to the Boston Red Sox on Jun. 5. Junis is 2-3 with a 4.93 ERA and .265 opponents batting average in six road starts this season. Perez lasted 4.2 innings in his last start, a 9-7 road loss to the Cleveland Indians on Jun. 5 in which he surrendered two earned runs on six hits. He is 4-1 with a 4.66 ERA in eight total games played so far this season at home, including six starts.
