The Cincinnati Reds will head west to square off against the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The opening pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast this interleague matchup.
Cincinnati Reds at Kansas City Royals Odds
Kansas City (-115) is favored against Cincinnati (+105) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this game at 9.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at +100 for the under and -120 for the over. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds coming in at Reds +1.5 runs (-200) and Royals -1.5 runs (+170).
The Royals are just 22-44 SU and 32-34 ATS. The team’s lost 14.9 units for moneyline bettors and 8.4 units against the spread (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Reds are 23-43 SU and have gone 34-32 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 15.0 units for moneyline gamblers and 8.8 units ATS. Cincinnati is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone over in six of those seven.
Kansas City games have an over/under record of 25-37-4 so far in 2018. Cincinnati has an over/under record of 32-32-2.
Sal Romano will get the nod for the visiting Reds. The right-handed Romano is 3-7 with a 6.23 ERA and 48 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals are sending righty Ian Kennedy (1-6, 5.76 ERA) to the mound. Kennedy has 62 strikeouts and 25 walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.64. Kennedy did not record a start against the Reds in 2017.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.5 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starters have an ERA of 5.22, a WHIP of 1.45 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.5. The bullpen has a 5.40 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 7.2 K/9.
The Kansas City offense is putting up 3.8 runs per contest, including 2.2 per game over its last 10 games and 2.0 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .184/.231/.301 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Left fielder Jon Jay and second baseman Whit Merrifield have led the Royals’ batters this year. Jay is slashing .307/.363/.374 with 73 hits, 18 RBIs and 28 runs scored, while Merrifield’s line is .286/.362/.415 with four homers, 22 RBIs, 31 runs and 14 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Cincinnati’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.79 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 7.58 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.00, along with a K-per-9 of 8.24.
Reds hitters have slashed .251/.332/.387 on their way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Cincinnati’s offensive production been powered by second baseman Scooter Gennett and first baseman Joey Votto, who have combined to belt 18 home runs. Gennett is slashing .340/.376/.556 with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs and 33 runs scored, while Votto (.310/.433/.444) has produced six homers, 27 RBIs and 33 runs scored.
The Reds have lost 13.8 units and are 24-23 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 21 of those games, compared to 25 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 16.4 units and are 18-26 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 17 of those games, compared to 23 that went under.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Kansas City Royals Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Cincinnati has recorded 26.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 24.8 over its last five.
The Reds have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit seven over their last 10.
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