The Texas Rangers will be taking on the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast this AL showdown and the first pitch will be at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Texas (+105) is coming into this one as the underdog to Kansas City (-115) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total stand at -110 for both the over and the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds sitting at -200 for the Rangers +1.5 runs and +170 for the Royals -1.5.
The Royals are just 22-51 straight up (SU) and 32-40 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 20.9 units for moneyline bettors and 16.0 units (ATS). Kansas City has a – ATS mark over its last seven games and the . On the other hand, the Rangers are 31-44 SU and have gone 34-40 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 4.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 12.0 units ATS. Texas is – ATS over its last seven games and the .
Kansas City games have a 28-40-4 over/under record so far in 2018. Texas has an over/under record of 34-35-5.
The right-handed Austin Bibens-Dirkx is projected to start for the visiting Rangers. Bibens-Dirkx is 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA and 11 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with six strikeouts and a 5.68 ERA against Kansas City this year.
The Royals are putting the ball in the hands of righty Jakob Junis (5-7, 4.43 ERA), who has 79 strikeouts and 20 walks, as well as a 1.21 WHIP. Junis hasn’t faced the Rangers yet this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.
Kansas City’s pitchers have yielded 5.6 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 5.23, a WHIP of 1.45 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.60 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
The Kansas City hitters have produced 3.6 runs per outing, including 2.0 per game over its last 10 games and 2.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .188/.257/.256 over its last five matchups and is 0-5 SU during that stretch.
The Royals’ batters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas. Merrifield is slashing .290/.368/.416 with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 31 runs and 16 stolen bases, while Moustakas has produced a line of .264/.320/.473 with 13 homers, 47 RBIs and 34 runs scored.
For the visitors, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.52 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 6.83 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.73, along with a K/9 of 8.23.
The Rangers offense has slashed .233/.319/.393 on its way to 4.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Texas’ offensive production has been powered by Shin-soo Choo and Nomar Mazara, who collectively have blasted 27 home runs. Choo is slashing .278/.391/.473 with 13 home runs, 32 RBIs and 44 runs scored. Mazara is hitting .276/.342/.489 with 14 homers, 46 RBIs and 40 runs scored.
Texas Rangers vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Notes
Texas has tallied 14 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Kansas City has eight XBH over its last five.
The Royals have dropped 14 of their last 15 games SU.
Texas has posted 22.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 25.0 over its last five.
The Rangers have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five
+++++
