The Kansas City Royals will pay a visit to Houston to face the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast this AL matchup and the game gets underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Houston Astros Odds
Vegas is listing Kansas City (+255) as the underdog to Houston (-305). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +100 for over 8.5 runs and -120 for under 8.5. The game’s current runline odds stand at +125 for taking the Royals +1.5 runs and -145 for the Astros -1.5.
The Astros are 50-26 straight up (SU) and 43-33 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 7.0 units for moneyline bettors and 8.2 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 have gone 22-52 SU this year and are 33-41 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 23.0 units for moneyline gamblers and 16.3 units ATS. Kansas City’s covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Astros games have a 35-37-4 over/under record so far in 2018. Kansas City has been a good under bet with a total record of 28-42-4.
Left-hander Danny Duffy is projected to start for Kansas City. Duffy is 3-7 with a 5.55 ERA and 69 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with five strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA against Houston this year.
The Astros are handing the ball to lefty Dallas Keuchel (4-8, 4.15 ERA), who has 71 punchouts and 23 walks to his name, as well as a 1.31 WHIP. Keuchel is 1-0 with five strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
As a unit, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.1 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have a 2.91 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 2.72, a WHIP of 1.05 and a K/9 of 10.8.
The Houston hitters have put up 5.2 runs per contest, including 6.9 per game over its last 10 games and 5.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .305/.370/.485 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Astros’ hitters have been led by second baseman Jose Altuve and outfielder George Springer. Altuve is hitting .347/.401/.495 with seven home runs, 39 RBIs, 49 runs and 11 steals, while Springer’s line is .279/.355/.486 with 15 homers, 42 RBIs and 56 runs.
For the visiting squad, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starters own a 5.20 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.33 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.53, along with a WHIP of 1.45 and a K/9 of 7.08.
Royals hitters have slashed .241/.305/.369 on their way to 3.6 runs scored per game this season, including 2.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (0-5 SU).
Kansas City’s offensive production has been sparked by second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .287/.367/.412 with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 31 runs and 16 steals, while Moustakas (.263/.319/.480) is up to 14 homers, 48 RBIs and 35 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 0.5 units and are 14-10 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in nine of those games, compared to 15 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 2.3 units and are 14-14 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s cashed in 13 of those games, compared to 14 that went under the total.
Kansas City Royals vs. Houston Astros Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
Kansas City has logged nine extra-base hits over its last five contests. Houston has 16 XBH over its last five.
The Royals have lost 15 of their last 16 games SU while the Astros have won 13 of their last 14.
Kansas City has recorded 13.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 15.2 over its last five.
The Royals have hit five home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 19 over their last 10.
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