The Cincinnati Reds are trying to avoid losing their fourth straight game as they play host to the Kansas City Royals at Great American Ball Park. Fox Sports Kansas City will be televising this interleague showdown and the game is scheduled to get underway at 6:40 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Cincinnati Reds Odds
Kansas City (+150) is the underdog to Cincinnati (-160) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 8.5 runs (-120 for the over and +100 for the under). Gamblers can also bet on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds standing at -145 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +125 for the Reds -1.5.
The Royals have gone 54-102 SU this year and are 79-77 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 27.7 units for moneyline bettors and 7.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Reds, on the other hand, are 66-91 SU and 88-69 ATS. The team’s lost 11.5 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 4.9 units ATS. Cincinnati has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in all seven of them.
Reds games have an over/under record of 76-76-5 in 2018. The Royals have been a decent under bet with a total record of 68-77-11.
Eric Skoglund is getting the nod for the visiting Royals. The left-handed Skoglund (1-5, 5.60 ERA) has racked up 45 strikeouts in 62.2 innings so far. He has yet to face the Reds this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Reds will turn to righty Matt Harvey (7-9, 4.92 ERA), who has 125 strikeouts and 37 walks to his credit as well as a WHIP of 1.31. Harvey did not record a start against the Royals in 2017.
As a unit, Cincinnati’s pitchers have given up 5.1 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have a 5.05 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.15 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 7.9 K/9.
The Cincinnati offense is putting up 4.3 runs per contest, including 1.2 per game over its last 10 games and 1.0 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .147/.213/.205 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Second baseman Scooter Gennett and shortstop Jose Peraza have led the Reds’ batters this year. Gennett is slashing .315/.363/.496 with 23 home runs, 92 RBIs and 85 runs scored, while Peraza is hitting .290 with 13 homers, 56 RBIs, 84 runs and 23 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 4.97 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 7.27 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.04, along with a K-per-9 of 7.30.
The Royals offense has slashed .245/.308/.392 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon continue to lead Kansas City’s offense. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .304/.368/.442 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs, 86 runs and 38 stolen bases, while Gordon (.246/.327/.370) has produced 12 homers, 51 RBIs and 54 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 23.4 units and are 53-55 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 51 of those games, as opposed to 49 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Reds have netted 3.0 units and are 29-18 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 23 of those games, compared to 23 which went under the total.
Kansas City Royals vs. Cincinnati Reds Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Reds, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has logged 19 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Cincinnati has five XBH over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
- Kansas City has recorded 24.9 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.2 over its last five.
- The Reds have lost four of their last five games SU.
