Free Pick | MLB | Friday | July 27

Nelly’s and Bobby Dalton both turned in comfortable top play wins last night to add to great July returns on the diamond.

Nelly’s is 13-5 since the All-Star break and we are on a 9-0 run in interleague play!

Dalton is 42-20 the past 47 days in MLB!

#969 Minnesota Twins (Gray) -165 over Kansas City Royals (Singer) 7:10 PM CT

The Twins are only 1.5 games ahead of Cleveland in the AL Central race and Minnesota will be a curious case at the trade deadline as a team that can likely win the division without upgrades but doesn’t look like a team that could make noise in the playoffs in its current form. Minnesota is 9-4 since the All-Star break however with a few young call-ups providing a spark and this will be an important series to take care of business following back-to-back home losses in close games this week. Minnesota is 9-1 vs. Kansas City this season while outscoring the Royals 58-25. Sonny Gray had a pair of rough starts surrounding his All-Star appearance, but he pitched well on Saturday and he has pitched at least five innings with three or fewer runs allowed 16 times this season, including allowing just one run and eight hits in 11 innings vs. the Royals. Brady Singer pitched well last weekend and has turned in several strong outings this season, but his inconsistency has led to a 5.55 ERA. His K/9 is only 7.5 as he may not be able to fully take advantage of a strikeout-prone Minnesota lineup. The Twins scored eight runs on Singer earlier this season and the bullpen should still provide an edge for Minnesota even with a few recent hiccups in the late innings. The Royals are hitting just .227 with 3.5 runs per nine vs. right-handers while 20-56 vs. right-handed starters and Gray still deserves to be considered among the best right-handers in the AL.