Royals vs. Twins Best Bet and Prediction for MLB Opening Day on Thursday, March 28
By Joe Summers
It's a beautiful day in Kansas City as the 2024 MLB season officially gets underway on Thursday, March 28 at 3:10 PM CT with Cole Ragans taking on Pablo Lopez.
Fittingly, the weather has been dreary over the last week but we've got clear skies today, an apt metaphor for what Royals fans hope this season will become. After a 56-win season in 2023, Kansas City has legitimate playoff aspirations behind Ragans, Bobby Witt Jr. and the rest of the young core.
As we hopefully launch a new era of Royals baseball, let's take a look at today's updated odds before I give my best bet for the game.
Royals vs. Twins Odds, Spread and Total
Royals vs. Twins Best Bet and Prediction
The success of this season will largely hinge on Cole Ragans' performance. He has legitimate Cy Young buzz entering the year after one of the best 12-start stretches in franchise history to close 2023, and he's looked even better than advertised in the spring.
Ragans had a 3.19 FIP (fielding independent pitching) last year while ranking in the 89th percentile in fastball velocity and 85th in expected batting average. He'll face a stiff test today against Lopez, who had a 3.33 FIP and ranked in the 93rd percentile in expected ERA. Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia need to have strong days at the plate, but I've got faith in Kansas City's young offensive core.
Cole Freakin Ragans.
— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) January 31, 2024
Overlays don't always feature consecutive pitches so the tunneling effects they claim to represent may not be present (not to mention camera angle magic).
This however?
FC down & in immediately followed by a CH down & away?
Identical out of the hand. pic.twitter.com/uCqq9RcmZ3
This is the moment the Royals have been waiting for. The Twins are favored to win the AL Central, but Kansas City can start the year with a statement victory behind Ragans and Witt Jr.
The Royals faced Lopez in April last year, knocking him around for eight hits and six runs in six innings. I don't think they'll have that much success offensively, but getting a few runs across the plate should be enough if Ragans keeps his form.
With a much-improved bullpen and a healthy offense, this team can accomplish big things. Take the Royals as underdogs to start the year with a win and earn a season-opening win over Minnesota.
You can claim a $200 bonus from FanDuel Sportsbook if the Royals win today just by betting $5! Click here to sign up, deposit at least $10 and bet $5 or more on Kansas City to win and you'll get $200 in bonus bets if they do. Make this magical day even better - click here to sign up for FanDuel now!
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.