The struggling Kansas City Royals will look to avoid losing their sixth in a row as they play host to the Boston Red Sox at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. This AL matchup will begin at 1:15 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City to catch the game.
Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
The Royals are 19-42 straight up (SU) and 29-31 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 15.2 units for moneyline bettors and 11.1 units ATS. The Red Sox are 32-29 SU and have gone 25-35 against the spread. Overall, the team’s lost 13.0 units for moneyline bettors and 13.3 units ATS.
Royals games have an over/under record of 30-26-4 so far in 2019. The Red Sox have been a decent over bet with a total record of 34-24-2.
Ryan Weber will get the nod for Boston. The right-handed Weber is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Royals will be sending lefty Danny Duffy (3-2, 4.05 ERA) to the hill. Duffy has 33 punchouts and 14 walks to his name, along with a WHIP of 1.35. Duffy only made one start against the Red Sox in 2018 (0-1, 6.75 ERA and six strikeouts across 6.2 innings).
Kansas City’s pitching staff has allowed 5.3 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.54, a WHIP of 1.48 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.5. The bullpen has a 4.94 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 8.8 K/9.
The Kansas City offense has put up 4.2 runs per outing, including 3.1 per game over its last 10 games and 1.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .211/.243/.337 over its last five matchups and is 0-5 SU during that stretch.
The Royals’ hitters have been led by Whit Merrifield, who is hitting .294/.347/.492 with seven home runs, 28 RBIs, 41 runs and eight steals.
In the visiting dugout, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starters own a 4.56 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 9.52 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.07, along with a WHIP of 1.25 and a K-per-9 of 10.26.
Red Sox hitters have slashed .261/.343/.445 on their way to 5.4 runs scored per game this year, including 6.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Rafael Devers has led Boston’s offense so far and is slashing .316/.374/.513 with nine home runs, 38 RBIs, 46 runs and eight stolen bases.
The Red Sox just took the previous game in the series by a final score of eight runs to zero.
Red Sox vs. Royals Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in just two of Boston’s last seven games.
- The Red Sox have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 11 over their last 10.
- The Red Sox have an OPS of .788 this season, including an OPS of .751 against left-handed pitchers. The Royals’ OPS stands at .719 overall and .645 against lefties.
- Kansas City has recorded 19.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 15.6 over its last five.
- The Royals have lost eight of their last nine games SU.
