The Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins open a three-game series at Target Field, with the Royals holding a 3-1 season series lead over Minnesota. The Twins, however, have been strong at home and will look to close the gap in the AL Central standings.
Game Overview
- Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
- Time: 8:10 PM ET
- Location: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
- Broadcast: ESPN, Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Kansas City
- Series Status: Game 1
Team Breakdown
Minnesota Twins (27-22, 2nd in AL Central)
- Home Record: 16-7
- Last 10 Games: 8-2 record, .264 batting average, 3.00 ERA
- Key Players:
- Trevor Larnach – Batting .254, with six doubles, a triple, and seven home runs.
- Byron Buxton – Has four home runs in his last 10 games, hitting 9-for-35.
- Pablo López (SP) – 5-1 career record vs. Royals, with a 2.23 ERA.
Kansas City Royals (28-23, 3rd in AL Central)
- Road Record: 11-14
- Last 10 Games: 4-6 record, .250 batting average, 3.21 ERA
- Key Players:
- Bobby Witt Jr. – Batting .305, with 19 doubles, three triples, and five home runs.
- Maikel Garcia – Leads the team with a .315 batting average, adding five home runs.
- Noah Cameron (SP) – Has allowed just three hits in 12.2 innings to start his MLB career.
Key Matchups & Storylines
1. Twins’ Home Dominance vs. Royals’ Road Struggles
Minnesota has been strong at home (16-7 record), while Kansas City has struggled on the road (11-14 record). Can the Royals overcome their road woes?
2. Pablo López vs. Royals’ Offense
López has been dominant against Kansas City, holding a 5-1 career record with a 2.23 ERA. Can Witt Jr. and Garcia break through against him?
3. Royals’ Contact Hitting vs. Twins’ Power
Kansas City thrives on high-contact hitting, while Minnesota relies more on home runs. If the Royals can string together hits, they could neutralize the Twins’ power advantage.
4. AL Central Standings Impact
Both teams are within striking distance of first place, making this series crucial for positioning in the division.
Prediction & X-Factors
- Likely Outcome: A close, competitive game with both teams looking to gain momentum.
- X-Factors:
- Twins’ ability to hit for power – Can Larnach and Buxton capitalize on Kansas City’s pitching?
- Royals’ offensive consistency – If Witt Jr. and Garcia stay hot, Kansas City has a chance.
- Cameron’s control – If he limits walks, the Royals could take control.
Game Odds
Kansas City Royals 7.5
Minnesota Twins – 198
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, May 22, 2025
