The Boston Red Sox are set to play the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. This AL matchup can be viewed across the country on Fox and the game gets underway 7:15 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Boston (-215) as the favorite over Kansas City (+195). Gamblers can bet on the game’s total with odds posted at even money (+100) for over 9 runs and -120 for under 9. The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -145 for taking the Red Sox -1.5 runs and +125 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are just 25-62 straight up (SU) and 39-47 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 25.7 units for moneyline bettors and 15.3 units (ATS). Kansas City has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. On the other hand, the Red Sox have gone 60-29 SU this year and are 51-37 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 17.4 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 13.8 units ATS. Boston’s covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Royals games have an over/under record of 33-49-4 thus far in 2018. Boston has an over/under record of 41-44-3.
David Price will get the nod for the visiting Red Sox. The southpaw Price is 9-6 with a 4.28 ERA and 92 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals are putting the ball in the hands of righty Brad Keller (2-3, 2.09 ERA), who has 33 strikeouts and 18 walks to his name, as well as a 1.16 WHIP. Keller is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA against Boston this year.
Boston’s pitching staff allowed 3.7 runs per game and its starters own a 3.75 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.60 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.24, along with a WHIP of 1.21.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .267/.335/.459 on its way to 5.2 runs scored per game this season, including 6.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Boston’s offense has been fueled by J.D. Martinez and Andrew Benintendi, who have combined to blast 40 home runs. Martinez is slashing .328/.392/.647 with 27 home runs, 73 RBIs and 62 runs scored, while Benintendi is hitting .281 with 13 homers, 53 RBIs, 59 runs and 16 steals.
For the home team, Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 5.36, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 5.02 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 6.8 K/9.
Kansas City’s offense has put up 3.5 runs per contest, including 2.7 per game over its last 10 games and 2.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .238/.273/.357 over its last five matchups and is 0-5 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have led the Royals’ offense this year. Merrifield is hitting .290/.359/.414 with five home runs, 28 RBIs, 34 runs and 16 stolen bases, and the line for Moustakas stands at .258/.312/.478 with 17 homers, 55 RBIs and 39 runs.
The Red Sox have gained 18.1 units and are 40-26 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 32 of those games, as opposed to 32 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have netted 3.8 units and are 18-11 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in 10 of those games, compared to 19 that went under.
Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has cashed in three of Boston’s last seven contests.
The Royals have dropped eight of their last nine games SU.
Kansas City has recorded 17.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.8 over its last five.
The Red Sox have hit 18 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit six over their last 10.
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