At the MLB Trade Deadline, things did not look good for anyone in the AL Central this side of the Tigers. The Minnesota Twins held a massive sale, and their attendance has plummeted down the stretch of a lost season. But the Kansas City Royals still find themselves in the playoff race against all odds.
The Royals enter as -137 Moneyline favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at eight runs. Let’s dig into a preview, prediction, and best bet for this Twins vs. Royals matchup.
Royals vs. Twins prediction, preview
Pablo López’s injury played a massive role in Minnesota’s season going off the rails. A shoulder strain cost him more than three months. When he left, the Twins were 33-27 and looking promising, but they’ve gone 29-51 since. It’s too little, too late for their season, but López makes his return to the bump on Friday. After cooking in his last Triple-A rehab start, the Twins bring him back from the 60-day IL to work back into form with a few starts down the stretch.
It’s unclear how much action López will get in this one, but he was stretched out in his last start to 82 pitches. It’s unlikely that manager Rocco Baldelli throws him a full workload during a lost year, but his presence is a major boost.
On the other side is Michael Wacha, continuing his impressive career turnaround. After injuries and command problems derailed a promising career with the Cardinals, Wacha bounced around before finding a home in Kansas City. He’s pitched to a 3.36 ERA in 103 starts over his past four seasons. The 34-year-old may not post the most impressive strikeout numbers, but his disappearing changeup can do damage.
Facing this Twins lineup should provide an excellent spot for him. After gutting their lineup at the deadline, they’ve been a subpar team to say the least. López will have his say as well, but without the expectation of a full pitch count, he doesn’t create much of an advantage for the Twins. That rings especially true when he has to hand things off to a bullpen that is getting shelled since the deadline.
