The Kansas City Royals are trying to avoid losing their fourth in a row they play host to the Los Angeles Angels at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. This AL matchup will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the game.
Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City Royals Odds
Vegas has listed Kansas City (+120) as the underdog to Los Angeles (-130). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -125 for over nine runs and +105 for under nine. Gamblers can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds coming in at Angels -1.5 runs (+115) and Royals 1.5 runs (-135).
The Royals are 3-8 SU and 5-5 ATS. The team has lost 3.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.1 units against the spread (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Angels are 11-3 SU and have gone 9-4 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 7.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in the season’s early going and 6.9 units ATS. Los Angeles has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Royals games have a 3-7 over/under record so far in 2018. Los Angeles has an over/under record of 8-5.
The Angels have gained 4.2 units and are 7-3 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in seven of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have netted 0.0 units and are 2-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in one of those games, as opposed to three that’ve cashed the under.
Left-hander Andrew Heaney will get the nod for the visiting Angels. Heaney recorded 27 strikeouts over 21 innings last year (five starts) but finished the season 1-2 overall with a 7.06 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP.
The Royals are going with righty Jason Hammel (0-1, 4.09 ERA) as their starter. Hammel started 32 games last year while finishing the season 8-13 overall with a 5.29 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 4.5 runs per game overall this year. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.02, a WHIP of 1.13 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.0. The bullpen has a 6.95 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 5.9 K/9.
The Kansas City hitters have put up 2.9 runs per outing, including 3.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .271/.337/.382 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Lucas Duda have led the Royals’ offense so far. Moustakas is slashing .341/.370/.591 with 15 hits, eight RBIs and eight runs scored, and Duda is batting .219 with seven hits, eight RBIs and two runs scored.
Moustakas seemed to have some trouble hitting lefties at home in 2017. Across 84 such plate appearances, he slashed .241/.274/.405 (his total season line was .271/.313/.519).
In the other dugout, Los Angeles’ pitching staff allowed 3.4 runs per game and its starters own a 3.88 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 9.17 K/9. The bullpen has an outstanding ERA of just 2.48, along with a WHIP of 1.29.
Angels hitters have slashed .290/.350/.481 on their way to 6.6 runs scored per game this season, including 7.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (5-0 SU).
Los Angeles’ offensive production been led by Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Trout is slashing .273/.388/.600 with 15 hits, five homers, 11 RBIs and 14 runs scored, while Ohtani is slashing .346/.414/.769 with nine hits, three homers, 11 RBIs and four runs scored.
Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City Royals Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Angels, ATS Winner – Angels, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Angels have hit 18 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit three over their last 10.
Los Angeles has averaged 28.7 runs + hits + errors over its last 10 games and 32.6 over its last five.
The Angels have won eight of their last nine games SU while the Royals have lost four of their last five SU.
*****
