Kansas City at Minnesota

Brian Bannister has emerged as the ace of this Royals staff. Kansas City has won his last three starts, seven of his last eight, and 12 of his last 16. He turns a sub-.500 team into a solid team when he takes the hill. Bannister has not allowed more than 3 runs in any of his last eight starts, while pitching to a slender 2.32 ERA. The Twins were 8-3 in Boof Bonser's first 11 starts, and he was pitching to an ERA in the mid 3's. Things have changed as the league has caught up with him, and the Twins are now just 4-12 in his last 16 starts. His ERA over those last 16 starts has ballooned to 5.46. The Royals are a very live dog today, and we will ride them.