Whit Merrifield and the slumping Kansas City Royals will head east to face the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. This interleague showdown will get going at 7:05 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City to catch the action.
Kansas City Royals vs. Washington Nationals Odds
Washington (-165) is the favorite over Kansas City (+155) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this game at 10.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at -105 for the over and -115 for the under. There’s a runline of Royals +1.5 (-140) and Nationals -1.5 (+120) for this matchup.
The Royals have gone only 29-59 SU this year and are 41-46 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 19.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 16.8 units ATS. The Nationals, on the other hand, are 45-41 SU and 44-41 ATS. They’ve lost 9.1 units for moneyline bettors and 0.9 units ATS.
Washington games have a 42-37-6 over/under record so far in 2019. Royals games have gone over 41 times, gone under 39 times and pushed on seven instances.
Brad Keller will get the start for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Keller is 4-9 with a 4.63 ERA and 75 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Nationals this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Nationals will deploy righty Austin Voth (0-0, 4.35 ERA) to the mound. Voth has 10 strikeouts and two walks as well as a WHIP of 1.16. Voth did not record a start against the Royals in 2018.
Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.28 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.30 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.83, along with a WHIP of 1.44.
The Royals offense has slashed .245/.310/.403 on its way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s offense has been powered by second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is slashing .308/.355/.500 with 11 home runs, 44 RBIs, 61 runs and 12 stolen bases, while Gordon has a .266 average with 10 homers, 53 RBIs and 46 runs scored.
For the home team, Washington’s pitchers have given up 4.7 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have a 3.60 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 6.20 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 9.3 K/9.
The Washington offense is putting up 4.9 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game over its last 10 games and 3.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .238/.317/.427 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Right fielder Adam Eaton and third baseman Anthony Rendon have led the Nationals’ offense this year. Eaton is slashing .275/.359/.377 with six home runs, 21 RBIs and 47 runs scored, while Rendon’s line is .310/.395/.627 with 20 homers, 60 RBIs and 64 runs scored.
Royals at Nationals Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has tallied 13 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Washington has 16 XBH over its last five.
- The Royals have lost seven of their last eight games SU while the Nationals have taken eight of their last nine.
- Washington has recorded 20.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.2 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Nationals have hit 15 over their last 10.
- The Royals have a total OPS of .713 this season and an OPS of .724 against right-handed pitchers. The Nationals’ OPS sits at .762 overall and .727 versus righties.
