Twins vs. Royals odds, line, score prediction, start time: 2024 MLB picks, Aug. 14 bets by proven model

Two of the top three teams in the American League Central Division battle on Wednesday when the Kansas City Royals face the Minnesota Twins. It will be the third game of the series after Minnesota posted an 8-3 win on Monday and 13-3 triumph on Tuesday. The Royals (65-55), third in the division, have lost six of the eight meetings this season against Minnesota. The Twins (67-52), second in the AL Central, have won the past two season series against Kansas City.

First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. ET. Kansas City is a -111 favorite on the money line (risk $111 to win $100) in the latest Royals vs. Twins odds from SportsLine consensus, while the total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 8.5. Before making any Twins vs. Royals picks, be sure to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer simulation model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. Entering Week 21 of the MLB season, it’s on a 25-13 roll on top-rated run-line picks (+732) that dates back to last season. Anybody following has seen strong returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Twins vs. Royals and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Royals vs. Twins:

• Royals vs. Twins money line: Royals -111, Twins -108
• Royals vs. Twins over/under: 8.5 runs
• Royals vs. Twins run line: Kansas City -1.5 (+145)
• KC: The Royals have covered the run line in 65 of their last 115 games (+8.89 units)
• MIN: The Twins have hit the game total over in 36 of their last 59 games (+13.20 units)
• Royals vs. Twins picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why you should back the Twins

Minnesota is expected to send right-hander Bailey Ober (12-5, 3.52 ERA) to the mound. He is coming off a 4-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, his fourth consecutive victory. In that game, he pitched six innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, while striking out nine. 

Right fielder Max Kepler has been hot of late. He has three consecutive multi-hit games, including a 3-for-5 performance with a homer and four RBI on Tuesday. He also has hits in eight of the past 10 games. In 93 games this season, he is hitting .271 with 20 doubles, one triple, eight homers, 41 RBI and 41 runs scored. In 100 career games against Kansas City, he is batting .261 with 24 doubles, three triples, 12 homers and 43 RBI.

Also helping power the Twins is second baseman Will Castro. He has hits in six straight games, including a 2-for-4 effort in a 6-3 win over Cleveland on Friday. He was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in a 13-7 win over the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 4. He has hit Royals pitching well throughout his career. In 52 games against them, he is batting .266 with four doubles, nine homers and 24 RBI. See which team to pick here.

Why you should back the Royals

Left-hander Cole Ragans (9-7, 3.27 ERA) is expected to start for Kansas City. Ragans has won four of his last five decisions, including two in a row. In an 8-4 win over Boston on Aug. 7, he pitched 6.1 innings, allowing six hits, four runs – one earned – and two walks, while striking out seven. This will be the third time he is facing Minnesota this season, but first since May 28, a 4-2 Twins win. In three career starts against Minnesota, he is 0-2, but has a 3.00 ERA. In 15 innings against the Twins, he has allowed just five earned runs and six walks, while striking out 18.

Offensively, the Royals are led by shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. In 120 games, he is hitting .347 with 33 doubles, 11 triples, 23 homers, 88 RBI and 101 runs scored. He has four multiple-hit games over the past eight, including a 3-for-4 effort with a double, two homers and four RBI in an 8-4 win over Boston on Aug. 7. He was 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI in an 8-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. See which team to pick here.

How to make Royals vs. Twins picks