The ice-cold Kansas City Royals will try to avoid losing their sixth straight game they play host to the Los Angeles Angels at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City will be televising this AL matchup. The game gets underway at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Los Angeles (-200) is favored over Kansas City (+185) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 8 runs. Odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at -115 for the over and -105 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds coming in at Angels -1.5 runs (-140) and Royals +1.5 runs (+120).
The Royals are only 3-10 SU and 6-6 ATS. They’ve lost 5.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.3 units against the spread (ATS). Kansas City has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Angels have gone 13-3 SU this year and are 10-5 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 9.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline in this young season and 6.8 units ATS. Los Angeles has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Kansas City games have a 3-9 over/under record so far in 2018. Los Angeles has an over/under record of 8-7.
The Angels have gained 3.0 units and are 2-1 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in one of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 4.2 units and are 3-4 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in two of those games, as opposed to five that’ve cashed the under.
The right-handed Shohei Ohtani is the probable starter for the visiting Angels. Ohtani is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 18 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals are putting the ball in the left hand of Eric Skoglund (0-1, 9.64 ERA), who has one strikeouts and two walks as well as a 1.71 WHIP. Skoglund did not record a start against the Angels in 2017.
Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 4.5 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 3.34, a WHIP of 1.20 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 6.26 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 6.5 K/9.
The Kansas City offense is putting up 3.0 runs per contest, including 2.8 per game over its last 10 games and 2.6 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .238/.304/.321 over its last five matchups and is 0-5 SU during that span.
The Royals’ hitters have been led by third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Lucas Duda. Moustakas is hitting .327/.352/.596 with 17 hits, nine RBIs and nine runs scored, while Duda is batting .282 with 11 hits, eight RBIs and four runs.
For the visiting squad, Los Angeles’ pitchers have allowed 3.4 runs per game and its starters own a 3.84 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 9.38 K/9. The bullpen has logged an excellent ERA of just 2.45, along with a K/9 of 8.78.
The Angels offense has slashed .291/.347/.482 on its way to 6.4 runs scored per game this year, including 6.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (5-0 SU).
Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani have led Los Angeles’ hitters. Trout is slashing .266/.377/.594 with 17 hits, six homers, 13 RBIs and 15 runs scored, while Ohtani is hitting .367/.424/.767 with 11 hits, three homers, 11 RBIs and five runs scored.
Trout seemed to have a little trouble hitting lefties last season. Across 106 plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .280/.443/.463 (compared to his total season line of .306/.442/.629).
Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City Royals Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Angels, ATS Winner – Angels, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Angels have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit four over their last 10.
Los Angeles fielders have two errors over the last 10 games, compared to seven errors for Kansas City over its last 10.
The Angels have won 10 of their last 11 games SU while the Royals have lost six of their last seven SU.
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