Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals

With the Twins riding a rough start to the year and the Royals trending upward albeit in a similar spot to the Twins, Kansas City finds itself in a favorable position heading into Monday night’s matchup at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino has continued his torrid start to 2025, but he’s historically torched Twins pitching to the tune of a .317 career batting average. Additionally, Michael Lorenzen, who is scheduled to start for Kansas City, owns a 2.89 ERA in his last four outings against the Twinkies. Though neither team is in immediate playoff contention this early in the season, the Royals’ more cohesive lineup and current momentum make this a smart lower-risk wager. The -120 line doesn’t offer huge value, but with conditions favoring Kansas City and Minnesota struggling to find consistency, this is a solid play. We’re assigning this pick a grade of B due to moderate confidence paired with modest payout upside. Odds and availability are subject to change.

The Twins roll into Kauffman trailing a rough start, and their offense has looked lifeless. Coming off only a single home run through five games, Minnesota’s bats have yet to find their groove. On the other side, the Royals—currently riding their own mediocre start—haven’t exactly exploded at the plate either, still leaning heavily on Bobby Witt Jr. to spark rallies. He’s fared well lifetime against Twins’ starter Simeon Woods Richardson, though Woods Richardson has kept Kansas City under control in past matchups. Despite a solid showing in three outings versus the Royals last year, Ryan may not even need much run support if KC lefty Cole Ragans continues to dominate early counts as he’s done this April. Add the early season rust and chilly Midwest conditions, and this has all the makings of a pitcher-friendly affair. With both clubs still feeling out roles in the lineup, and injuries impacting key middle-of-the-order bats, scoring should remain modest. The value on the Under at even money gives it mild upside, though the unpredictability of early April offense limits this pick’s ceiling. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Slugging catcher Salvador Pérez and his Kansas City Royals look primed to keep Minnesota’s early-season skid going when the two AL Central rivals meet Monday night under the lights at The K. The Twins are dragging a four-game losing streak and remain winless on the road. Lorenzen, with a career 2.90 ERA against Minnesota, has shown command early this season and should benefit from a Twins lineup that ranks near the bottom of the league in slugging through five games. Meanwhile, Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. seems to thrive in this matchup, batting over .340 lifetime against the Twins with five steals in his last six games against them. Though the Royals’ bullpen hasn’t been airtight, they've held late leads responsibly, and their overall momentum—even at 2-3—is more promising than Minnesota’s current form. Giving up -200 odds isn't ideal, but the plus-run cushion feels safe here with how both clubs are trending. This one gets a B+ for likelihood and moderate value. Odds and availability are subject to change.