The Kansas City Royals will take on the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. This AL matchup can be viewed across the country on Fox and the opening pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Houston Astros Odds
Vegas is listing Houston (-320) as the favorite over Kansas City (+260). The total is sitting at 8.5 runs and gamblers can take the over for even money (+100) and the under for -120. You can also bet on the game’s spread with the runline odds standing at +130 for the Royals +1.5 runs and -150 for the Astros -1.5 runs.
The Royals are only 23-52 SU and have gone 33-41 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 23.0 units for moneyline bettors and 16.3 units ATS. The Astros, on the other hand, are 50-27 SU and 43-33 ATS. The team has gained 7.0 units for moneyline bettors and 8.2 units ATS.
Houston games have an over/under record of 35-37-4 so far in 2018. Kansas City has been a good under bet with a total record of 28-42-4.
Ian Kennedy will get the nod for Kansas City. The right-handed Kennedy (1-7, 5.31 ERA) has recorded 75 strikeouts in 79.2 innings so far. He has yet to face the Astros this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 7.20 ERA and four strikeouts over five innings).
The Astros are putting the ball in the hands of righty Lance McCullers Jr. (8-3, 3.77 ERA), who has 90 punchouts and 34 walks to his name, as well as a 1.20 WHIP. McCullers Jr. is 0-0 with nine strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starters own a 5.12 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.38 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.46, along with a K-per-9 of 7.00.
The Royals offense has slashed .241/.305/.370 on its way to 3.6 runs scored per game this season, including 1.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s hitters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .285/.364/.408 with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 31 runs and 16 stolen bases, while Moustakas (.259/.314/.472) has produced 14 homers, 48 RBIs and 35 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.0 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have an ERA of 2.88, a WHIP of 1.05 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.2. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 2.73, a WHIP of 1.06 and a K/9 of 10.9.
The Houston hitters are putting up 5.1 runs per outing, including 6.1 per game over its last 10 games and 3.6 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .269/.354/.413 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Second baseman Jose Altuve and right fielder George Springer have led the Astros’ batters this year. Altuve is slashing .346/.402/.493 with seven home runs, 39 RBIs, 49 runs and 11 steals, while Springer’s line sits at .277/.357/.483 with 15 homers, 42 RBIs and 56 runs.
The Royals have lost 22.5 units and are 19-31 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 19 of those games, compared to 27 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have netted 9.3 units and are 29-19 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 22 of those games, as opposed to 23 that’ve gone under.
Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in four of Kansas City’s last seven games.
Houston has posted 26.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.8 over its last five.
The Royals have hit four home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 17 over their last 10.
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