FanDuel. Following a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him make his first All Star team, Kris Bubic begins his 2026 season on Monday. After a solid spring (0.75 ERA, 14 strikeouts in 12 innings), he should be slated for around 80 pitches today - more than enough to strikeout at least five Twins. Minnesota profiles well below average on the strikeout front this season, especially against lefties. I expect Bubic to come out of the gates hot, akin to last year.

As much as I would love to play the First 5 ML, I just don't want to lay the heavy juice and I think the Royals will have the lead by the end of the 5th. Kris Bubic is on the mound for KC and he's enjoyed a solid spring training (coming back from a good 2025 which ended with injury). The Twins will trot out Simeon Woods Richardson who is prone to giving up runs, courtesy of hard hits and the deep ball. The run scoring environment should be great when you factor in the weather and the Royals should be able to take advantage early.

Fading the Twins was moderately profitable in their first series in Baltimore in dropping two of three, and I think Minnesota will be dropping many series 2-1 in 2026. Simeon Woods Richardson is expected on the mound Monday. He had a 5.19 road ERA last year and was hit pretty hard and lost his only start to Kansas City -- which plays its home opener. In six outings this spring, SWR was 0-2 with a 5.85 ERA. For the Royals, it's Kris Bubic. Surprised me to know that since returning from Tommy John surgery on July 7, 2024, his 2.58 ERA ranks third in the AL among starters (min. 140.0 IP), trailing Tarik Skubal and Hunter Brown.