The Cincinnati Reds will be facing off against the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City will showcase this interleague matchup and the game gets going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati Reds at Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Kansas City (+100) as the underdog to Cincinnati (-110). The total sits at 9.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over or the under for -110. The games current runline odds stand at +135 for betting the Reds -1.5 runs and -155 for the Royals +1.5.
The Reds have gone just 24-43 SU this year and are 34-32 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 15.0 units for moneyline gamblers and 8.8 units ATS. The Royals, on the other hand, are 22-45 SU and 32-34 ATS. The teams lost 14.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.4 units ATS.
Royals games have an over/under record of 25-37-4 thus far in 2018. The Reds have an over/under record of 32-32-2.
The right-handed Tyler Mahle is the probable starter for Cincinnati. Mahle is 4-6 with a 4.33 ERA and 67 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals are turning to righty Jason Hammel (2-6, 5.12 ERA), who’s got 52 strikeouts and 21 walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 1.44. Hammel did not record a start against the Reds in 2017.
Cincinnati’s pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.68 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 7.45 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.97, along with a K-per-9 of 8.24.
The Reds offense has slashed .251/.332/.387 on its way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.9 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 5.6 per game over the teams last five outings (3-2 SU).
Cincinnati’s hitters have been powered by second baseman Scooter Gennett and first baseman Joey Votto, who’ve collectively launched 18 home runs. Gennett is slashing .339/.376/.551 with 12 home runs, 47 RBIs and 33 runs scored, while Votto (.309/.433/.449) is up to six homers, 30 RBIs and 34 runs scored.
For the home team, Kansas City’s pitching staff has yielded 5.5 runs per game overall this year. The clubs starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.11, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.5. The bullpen has a 5.55 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
Kansas City’s hitters have produced 3.8 runs per outing, including 2.3 per game over its last 10 games and 1.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .159/.193/.287 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Jon Jay have led the Royals hitters this year. Merrifield is hitting .290/.364/.417 with four home runs, 22 RBIs, 31 runs and 14 stolen bases, and Jay’s line is .307/.363/.374 with 73 hits, 18 RBIs and 28 runs scored.
The Reds have lost 13.8 units and are 24-23 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 21 of those games, compared to 25 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. 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 the total.
Cincinnati Reds at Kansas City Royals MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in just one of Cincinnati’s last seven games.
- The Royals have lost eight of their last nine games SU.
- Cincinnati has posted 25.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.0 over its last five.
- The Reds have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit eight over their last 10.
