The Kansas City Royals will make a road trip to Houston to face the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Fox Sports Kansas City will televise this AL matchup and the game gets underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Houston (-240) as the favorite over Kansas City (+220). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +100 for over eight runs and -120 for under eight. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds sitting at +100 for the Royals +1.5 runs and -120 for the Astros -1.5 runs.
The Royals have gone just 12-23 SU this year and are 18-16 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 6.7 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in the season’s early going and 1.4 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Astros, on the other hand, are 20-14 SU and 14-19 ATS. They’ve lost 2.6 units for moneyline bettors and 6.3 units ATS. Houston has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Astros games have an over/under record of 14-19 so far in 2019. Kansas City has been a decent over bet with a total record of 20-13-1.
Jakob Junis is getting the start for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Junis is 3-2 with a 5.12 ERA and 34 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-1, 10.13 ERA and three strikeouts across 5.1 innings).
The Astros are turning to Gerrit Cole (2-4, 3.95 ERA). Cole has 65 strikeouts and 15 walks, along with a 1.04 WHIP. Cole only made one start against the Royals in 2018 (1-0, 1.80 ERA and eight strikeouts across five innings).
As a unit, Houston’s pitching staff has allowed 3.7 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have an ERA of 3.97, a WHIP of 1.06 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.4. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.83, a WHIP of 1.00 and a K/9 of 9.4.
The Houston hitters are putting up 5.0 runs per contest, including 5.1 per game over its last 10 games and 7.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .308/.369/.595 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
Outfielders Michael Brantley and George Springer have led the Astros’ hitters so far. Brantley is slashing .336/.380/.565 with seven home runs, 24 RBIs and 20 runs scored, and Springer’s line is .280/.366/.561 with 10 homers, 27 RBIs and 25 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 4.90 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 7.52 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.18, along with a K-per-9 of 8.59.
Royals hitters have slashed .244/.322/.430 on their way to 4.7 runs scored per game this season, including 5.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Kansas City’s offensive production has been fueled by second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Adalberto Mondesi. Merrifield is slashing .285/.342/.514 with five home runs, 14 RBIs, 27 runs and six stolen bases. Mondesi is slashing .281/.316/.518 with four homers, 30 RBIs, 21 runs and 10 stolen bases.
The Royals have lost 4.7 units and are 12-12 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 15 of those games, compared to nine that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 5.0 units and are 10-15 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 12 of those games, compared to 13 that’ve gone under.
Royals at Astros MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in three of Houston’s last seven games.
- The Royals have a team OPS of .751 this season and an OPS of .784 against right-handed pitchers. The Astros’ OPS sits at .835 overall and .818 versus righties.
- Kansas City has posted 21.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 25.4 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
