The Houston Astros are making a road trip to Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium to take on the Kansas City Royals. Fox Sports Kansas City will showcase this AL showdown and the game gets underway at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Kansas City (+200) is the underdog to Houston (-220) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs (-115 for the over and -105 for the under). The game’s runline odds sit at -150 for taking the Astros -1.5 runs and +130 for the Royals +1.5.
The Astros have gone 45-25 SU this year and are 38-31 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 3.4 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 5.6 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 22-46 SU and 32-36 ATS. The team’s lost 16.9 units for moneyline bettors and 11.4 units ATS. Kansas City has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has cashed in six of those seven.
Royals games have had an over/under record of 25-39-4 so far in 2018. The Astros have an over/under record of 30-35-4.
Charlie Morton will get the start for the visiting Astros. The right-handed Morton (7-1, 2.82 ERA) has racked up 96 strikeouts in 76.2 innings so far. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals are handing the ball to righty Jakob Junis (5-6, 4.05 ERA), who’s got 76 punchouts and 19 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.19 WHIP. Junis only made one start against the Astros in 2017 (0-0, 9.82 ERA across 3.2 innings).
Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.1 runs per game and its starters own a 2.96 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10.13 K/9. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.91, along with a K/9 of 10.59.
The Astros offense has slashed .264/.337/.434 on its way to 5.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including 6.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (5-0 SU).
Second baseman Jose Altuve and right fielder George Springer continue to lead Houston’s hitters. Altuve is slashing .338/.388/.465 with five home runs, 35 RBIs, 43 runs and 10 stolen bases, while Springer is hitting .293 with 14 homers, 41 RBIs and 52 runs scored.
In the home-team dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff has allowed 5.5 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has a 5.06 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.63 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
The Kansas City offense is putting up 3.7 runs per outing, including 1.8 per game over its last 10 games and 1.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .165/.213/.280 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Royals’ hitters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Jon Jay. Merrifield is slashing .294/.369/.424 with four home runs, 22 RBIs, 31 runs and 14 stolen bases, while Jay’s line sits at .307/.363/.374 with 73 hits, 18 RBIs and 28 runs.
The Astros have gained 4.3 units and are 25-18 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 18 of those games, compared to 22 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 18.4 units and are 18-28 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 17 of those games, compared to 25 that went under the total.
Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
Houston has tallied 26 extra-base hits over its last five games. Kansas City has 11 XBH over its last five.
The Royals have lost nine of their last 10 games SU.
Houston has posted 27.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 31.6 over its last five.
The Astros have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
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