The Texas Rangers will play host to the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Park. This AL showdown can be viewed across the country on Fox Sports One and the game gets underway 4:05 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers Odds
Texas (-135) is hosting this game as the favorite over Kansas City (+125) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this afternoon game at 10 runs (-120 for the over and +100 for the under). You can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds coming in at Royals +1.5 runs (-170) and Rangers -1.5 runs (+150).
The Royals have gone 17-34 SU this year and are 23-27 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 10.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 8.0 units ATS. The Rangers, on the other hand, are 21-32 SU and 21-31 ATS. They’ve lost 4.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 15.3 units ATS.
Texas games have a 25-22-5 over/under record so far in 2018. Kansas City has been a decent under bet with a total record of 19-28-3.
Ian Kennedy will get the nod for the Royals. The right-handed Kennedy is 1-5 with a 5.30 ERA and 50 strikeouts. This is his first outing against Texas this year. He made two starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 0-0 record with a 1.98 ERA and nine strikeouts.
The Rangers will turn to righty Bartolo Colon (2-2, 3.51 ERA), who has 36 strikeouts and five walks as well as a WHIP of 0.92. Colon only made one start against the Royals in 2017 (0-1, 32.40 ERA across 1.2 innings).
Texas’ pitching staff has yielded 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 5.29, a WHIP of 1.46 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.3. The bullpen has a 4.16 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 8.4 K/9.
The Texas hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per contest, including 5.5 per game over its last 10 games and 6.6 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .233/.348/.497 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
Nomar Mazara has helped lead the Rangers’ offense this season with 12 home runs, 34 RBIs and 30 runs scored. Mazara performed well against righty pitching at home last year. Over 240 such plate appearances, he slashed .312/.379/.526 (compared to his total season line of .253/.323/.422).
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starters own a 5.48 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.24 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.16, along with a K/9 of 6.95.
Royals hitters have slashed .256/.322/.385 on their way to 4.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Kansas City’s offense has been led by Jon Jay. Jay is hitting .291/.349/.337 with 57 hits, 13 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
The Rangers are looking for another win after an 8-4 victory in the prior game of this series.
Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has cashed in four of Kansas City’s last seven games.
The Royals have hit six home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
Kansas City has posted 20.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 21.6 over its last five.
The Rangers have won three of their last four games SU.
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