The ice-cold Kansas City Royals will try to avoid losing their seventh straight game as they play host to the Texas Rangers at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. This AL showdown will get going at 8:15 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City to catch the game.
Texas Rangers at Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers have placed identical moneyline odds (-105) on both of these teams. The total sits at 9.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over for -120 and the under for +100. Runline odds sit at +140 for taking the Rangers -1.5 runs and -160 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are 22-49 straight up (SU) and 32-38 against the spread (ATS). The team’s lost 18.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 13.4 units (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Rangers are 29-44 SU and have gone 32-40 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 6.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 14.3 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Kansas City games have an over/under record of 27-39-4 so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 33-34-5.
The right-handed Bartolo Colon will get the nod for Texas. Colon is 3-4 with a 4.94 ERA and 48 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA against Kansas City this year.
The Royals will turn to righty Ian Kennedy (1-6, 5.13 ERA), who has 67 strikeouts and 28 walks as well as a 1.55 WHIP. Kennedy is 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA in one start against Texas this year.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.6 runs per game overall this season. Its starting pitching staff has a 5.18 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.71 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
The Kansas City offense has produced 3.7 runs per contest, including 2.0 per game over its last 10 games and 2.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .163/.239/.244 over its last five matchups and is 0-5 SU during that span.
The Royals’ offense has been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Jon Jay. Merrifield is slashing .294/.371/.424 with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 31 runs and 15 stolen bases, while Jay is hitting .307 with 73 hits, 18 RBIs and 28 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starters own a 5.64 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 6.87 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.81, along with a WHIP of 1.49.
Rangers hitters have slashed .231/.317/.391 on their way to 4.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Texas’ offensive production has been powered by Shin-soo Choo and Nomar Mazara, who collectively have swatted 26 home runs. Choo is slashing .274/.384/.459 with 12 home runs, 31 RBIs and 42 runs scored. Mazara is hitting .263/.333/.485 with 14 homers, 45 RBIs and 39 runs scored.
The Rangers have lost 4.3 units and are 21-27 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 20 of those games, compared to 26 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 19.4 units and are 18-29 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 18 of those games, compared to 25 that went under the total.
Texas Rangers vs. Kansas City Royals MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Texas has tallied 10 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Kansas City has nine XBH over its last five.
The Rangers have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit six over their last 10.
Kansas City has averaged 13.2 runs + hits + errors over its last 10 games and 12.4 over its last five.
The Royals have lost 12 of their last 13 games SU.
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