The struggling Kansas City Royals will try to avoid losing their eighth straight game as they play host to the Texas Rangers at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The game gets underway 8:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will be airing this AL matchup.
Texas Rangers at Kansas City Royals Odds
Texas (-135) is entering this one as the favorite against Kansas City (+125) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this night game at 9 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at +100 for the under and -120 for the over. The game’s current runline odds stand at +110 for betting the Rangers -1.5 runs and -130 for the Royals +1.5 runs.
The Rangers have gone 30-44 SU this year and are 34-40 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 4.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 12.0 units ATS. The Royals, on the other hand, are 22-50 SU and 32-40 ATS. They’ve lost 20.9 units for moneyline bettors and 16.0 units ATS.
Kansas City games have a 28-40-4 over/under record so far in 2018. Rangers games have gone under 35 times, gone over 34 times and pushed on five instances.
The left-handed Cole Hamels is the projected starter for the visiting Rangers. Hamels (3-6, 3.69 ERA) has racked up 85 punchouts in 85.1 innings so far. He’s 0-1 with two strikeouts and a 7.11 ERA against Kansas City this year.
The Royals are sending righty Jason Hammel (2-7, 4.89 ERA) to the mound. Hammel has 55 strikeouts and 21 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.39 WHIP. Hammel is 1-0 with 10 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in one start against Texas this year.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.6 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 5.21 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.67 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
Kansas City’s offense has put up 3.7 runs per outing, including 2.0 per game over its last 10 games and 2.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .194/.263/.275 over its last five games and is 0-5 SU during that stretch.
Whit Merrifield has helped lead the Royals’ offense this year with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 31 runs and 15 stolen bases.
For the visitors, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starters own a 5.62 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 6.79 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.76, along with a K-per-9 of 8.22.
The Rangers offense has slashed .231/.318/.392 on its way to 4.3 runs scored per game this year, including 5.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Shin-soo Choo has provided a spark to the Texas offense. Choo is slashing .279/.394/.478 with 13 home runs, 32 RBIs and 44 runs scored.
The Rangers are looking for another victory following a 6-3 win in the prior game of the series.
Texas Rangers vs. Kansas City Royals MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in three of Texas’ last seven games.
The Rangers have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
Texas has recorded 21.9 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 contests and 23.0 over its last five.
The Royals have lost 13 of their last 14 games SU.
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