Cincinnati Reds at Kansas City Royals Free Preview

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The Cincinnati Reds are traveling west to face the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to televise this interleague matchup and the game is slated to get underway at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Cincinnati Reds at Kansas City Royals Odds

Kansas City (-115) is hosting this game as the favorite over Cincinnati (+105) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs. The odds for betting on the games total sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the games runline with the current odds sitting at Reds +1.5 runs (-200) and Royals -1.5 runs (+170).

The Reds are only 23-43 SU and have gone 34-32 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 15.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 8.8 units ATS. Cincinnati is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone over in six of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 22-44 SU and 32-34 ATS. They’ve lost 14.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.4 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven.

Royals games have had an over/under record of 25-37-4 thus far in 2018. Cincinnati has an over/under record of 32-32-2.

Sal Romano is getting the start for the visiting Reds. The right-handed Romano is 3-7 with a 6.23 ERA and 48 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.

The Royals are sending righty Ian Kennedy (1-6, 5.76 ERA) to the mound. Kennedy has 62 strikeouts and 25 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.64. Kennedy did not record a start against the Reds in 2017.

As a unit, Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.5 runs per game overall this season. The teams starters have a 5.22 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.40 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 7.2 K/9.

The Kansas City hitters have put up 3.8 runs per contest, including 2.2 per game over its last 10 games and 2.0 per game over their last five. The teams hit .184/.231/.301 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.

Left fielder Jon Jay and second baseman Whit Merrifield have led the Royals offense this year. Jay is hitting .307/.363/.374 with 73 hits, 18 RBIs and 28 runs scored, and Merrifield’s line sits at .286/.362/.415 with four homers, 22 RBIs, 31 runs and 14 stolen bases.

In the visiting dugout, Cincinnati’s pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.79 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 7.58 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.00, along with a WHIP of 1.55.

Reds hitters have slashed .251/.332/.387 on their way to 4.2 runs scored per game this season, including 5.1 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 5.2 per game over the teams last five outings (2-3 SU).

Cincinnati’s offensive production been powered by second baseman Scooter Gennett and first baseman Joey Votto, who have combined to launch 18 home runs. Gennett is slashing .340/.376/.556 with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs and 33 runs scored, while Votto (.310/.433/.444) has produced six homers, 27 RBIs and 33 runs scored.

The Reds have lost 13.8 units and are 24-23 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 21 of those games, compared to 25 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 16.4 units and are 18-26 ATS when facing a righty starter. The overs hit in 17 of those games, compared to 23 that went under.

Cincinnati Reds vs. Kansas City Royals Free MLB Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – UNDER

Betting Trends

  • Cincinnati has posted 26.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.8 over its last five.
  • The Reds have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit seven over their last 10.