The Kansas City Royals are preparing to do battle against the Texas Rangers in a Saturday showdown. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to broadcast this AL showdown and the game gets underway at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers Odds
Kansas City (+145) is the underdog to Texas (-155) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this game at 11 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds sitting at Royals +1.5 runs (-150) and Rangers -1.5 runs (+130).
The Royals are just 19-38 SU and are 29-27 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 11.2 units for moneyline bettors and 4.8 units ATS. The Rangers, on the other hand, are 28-27 SU and 32-22 ATS. They’ve gained 7.2 units for moneyline bettors and 5.5 units ATS.
Rangers games have a 29-24-1 over/under record so far in 2019. Kansas City has been a decent over bet with a total record of 29-23-4.
The right-handed Homer Bailey is the projected starter for Kansas City. Bailey is 4-5 with a 5.79 ERA and 49 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with four strikeouts and a 10.38 ERA against Texas this year.
The Rangers are handing the ball to righty Lance Lynn (6-4, 4.66 ERA), who’s got 70 strikeouts and 22 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.39. Lynn is 1-0 with five strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
Texas’ pitching staff has given up 5.3 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 5.11, a WHIP of 1.53 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.6. The bullpen has a 5.02 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 7.8 K/9.
Texas’ hitters are putting up 5.7 runs per contest, including 4.8 per game over its last 10 games and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .240/.301/.398 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Rangers’ batters have been led by Shin-soo Choo and Elvis Andrus. Choo is hitting .298/.385/.540 with 10 home runs, 25 RBIs and 37 runs scored, while Andrus has put up a line of .308/.357/.470 with six homers, 27 RBIs, 28 runs and 10 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.53 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 7.55 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.72, along with a K-per-9 of 8.82.
Royals hitters have slashed .246/.318/.413 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s offensive production has been fueled by second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Adalberto Mondesi. Merrifield is slashing .297/.353/.508 with seven home runs, 28 RBIs, 41 runs and eight steals, while Mondesi (.288/.325/.487) is up to six homers, 42 RBIs, 35 runs and 20 stolen bases.
The Royals have lost 9.1 units and are 21-20 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 24 of those games, as opposed to 15 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Rangers have netted 7.5 units and are 20-16 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 19 of those games, compared to 17 that went under.
Royals at Rangers Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in three of Texas’ last seven games.
- The Royals have an OPS of .731 this season and an OPS of .757 against right-handed pitchers. The Rangers’ OPS sits at .791 overall and .818 versus righties.
- The Rangers have won three of their last four games SU.
- Texas has recorded 20.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 22.2 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rangers have hit 11 over their last 10.
