Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins Free Pick and Betting Lines. The 33-23 Minnesota Twins play host to the 21-23 Kansas City Royals tonight in MLB action on the grass of Target Field, June 8, 2015. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10PM EST.

Wagering Odds
Moneyline: Twins -109/Royals -101
O/U Total: 8.5

Pitching Matchup
Jason Vargas (L) W/L 4-2 WHIP 1.43 ERA 4.79
Phil Hughes (R) W/L 4-5 WHIP 1.35 ERA 4.96

Kansas City was a 4-3 winner over Texas yesterday to finish their homestand 2-4. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games. Minnesota got 8 shutout innings from P Mike Pelfrey on Sunday to defeat Milwaukee 2-0. They are 1-2 on their current homestand and 5-4 in their past 9 games. They are 20-9 at home in 2015.

The teams are even at 3-3 in the season series but the Royals have a 6-4 edge in the last 10 contests.

Vargas got the win in his last start, a 4-2 victory over Cleveland. He allowed 2 runs in 6 innings of work for his 3rd Q start of the year.

Hughes was a 6-3 loser at Boston last week as he surrendered 5 ERs in 4.1 innings. The loss ended a 6-game unbeaten run for Hughes. He has 4 Q starts on the season.

Royals OF Alex Rios is 13-27 (.481) against Hughes with a HR, 5 RBIs and 2 SBs. SS Alcides Escobar is hitting .353 (6-17) with a HR, 2 RBIs and 2 SBs vs. the veteran right-hander. At the other end of the spectrum, C Salvador Perez, 1B Eric Hosmer and OF Lorenzo Cain are a combined 7-40 (.175) vs. Hughes.

Minnesota 1B Joe Mauer has had a lot of success against Vargas, going 14-33 (.424) with 9 RBIs and a SB. IF Eduardo Nunez and OF Torii Hunter are both hitting .333 against the veteran left-hander. C Kurt Suzuki and 3B Trevor Plouffe have a combined 66 ABs against Vargas but are hitting only .197 against him.

Kansas City at Minnesota Betting Trends

The Royals are 3-9 straight up in their last 12 games.
Kansas City is 1-4 straight up in their last 5 road games.
The game total has gone over in 4 of the Royal’s last 5 games on the road in Minnesota.
The Twins are 10-5 straight up in their last 15 games.
Minnesota is 15-5 straight up in their last 20 home games.

Injury Report

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Tim Collins P 60-Day Disabled List
Danny Duffy P 15-Day Disabled List
Brian Flynn P 15-Day Disabled List
Erik Kratz C 15-Day Disabled List
Kris Medlen P 60-Day Disabled List
Jason Vargas P 15-Day Disabled List

MINNESOTA TWINS
Ricky Nolasco P 15-Day Disabled List
Ervin Santana P Out Until July 4 (suspension)
Jordan Schafer OF 15-Day Disabled List

Consensus Picks (Public Money line Bets)
Kansas City: 55%
Minnesota: 45%

Free MLB Pick

Jason Vargas has faced the Twins twice this season and didn’t fare well in either allowing a combined 10 runs (9 earned) over 8 2/3 innings. Minnesota has feasted on his offerings hitting .299 lifetime against Vargas. Phil Hughes missed the two previous series these two teams played this season but his career stats against them are not strong with the Royals’ roster holding a .281 career batting average.

Take the OVER 8.5 +105‏