The Houston Astros will play the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The game gets underway 2:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will televise this AL matchup.
Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Houston (-240) is entering this game as the favorite over Kansas City (+220) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 9.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. The game’s most recent runline odds stand at -160 for betting the Astros -1.5 runs and +140 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are just 22-48 straight up (SU) and 32-37 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 17.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 12.4 units (ATS). The Astros have gone 47-25 SU this year and are 40-31 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 5.4 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 7.6 units ATS.
Royals games have an over/under record of 26-39-4 so far in 2018. Astros games have gone under 35 times, gone over 32 times and pushed on four occasions.
Lance McCullers Jr. is getting the nod for the visiting Astros. The right-handed McCullers Jr. (8-3, 3.83 ERA) has recorded 81 strikeouts in 82.1 innings so far. He has yet to face Kansas City this year, but he made two starts against the Royals in 2017, compiling a 0-0 record against them with a 2.57 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
The Royals will be sending righty Brad Keller (1-2, 2.31 ERA) to the mound. Keller has 23 strikeouts and 13 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.23. Keller did not pitch in the majors last season.
Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.6 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 5.19, a WHIP of 1.43 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. 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 contest, including 1.6 per game over its last 10 games and 1.6 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .166/.223/.252 over its last five games and is 0-5 SU during that stretch.
The Royals’ batters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Jon Jay. Merrifield is slashing .295/.372/.425 with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 31 runs and 15 stolen bases, while Jay’s line sits at .307/.363/.374 with 73 hits, 18 RBIs and 28 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Houston’s pitching staff allowed 3.1 runs per game and its starters own a 2.94 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10.14 K/9. The bullpen has logged an excellent ERA of just 2.82, along with a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 10.82.
Astros hitters have slashed .265/.338/.438 on their way to 5.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 7.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 8.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (5-0 SU).
Second baseman Jose Altuve and outfielder George Springer have paced Houston’s offense. Altuve is slashing .337/.390/.464 with five home runs, 37 RBIs, 44 runs and 10 stolen bases, while Springer is hitting .287/.362/.495 with 14 homers, 41 RBIs and 54 runs scored.
The Astros have gained 6.3 units and are 27-18 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 20 of those games, compared to 22 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 19.4 units and are 18-29 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 18 of those games, compared to 25 that went under the total.
Houston Astros at Kansas City Royals MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – UNDER
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Notes
The under has cashed in five of Kansas City’s last seven games.
The Royals have dropped 11 of their last 12 games SU.
Houston fielders have committed three errors over their last five games, compared to six errors for Kansas City over its last five.
The Astros have hit 20 home runs in their last 10 games, including 12 over their last five.
+++++
