The Kansas City Royals will be taking on the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. NBC Sports – California is in line to televise this AL showdown and the game gets going at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Oakland Athletics Odds
Kansas City (+160) is the underdog to Oakland (-170) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the games total sit at -120 for the under and +100 for the over. You can also bet on the games spread with the most recent runline odds standing at -135 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +115 for the Athletics -1.5.
The Athletics are 33-32 SU and 31-33 ATS. They’ve gained 2.7 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 3.0 units against the spread (ATS). Oakland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven. The Royals are 22-43 SU and have gone 30-34 ATS. In total, the teams lost 15.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 10.4 units ATS. Kansas City is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Athletics games have a 29-31-4 over/under record thus far in 2018. Kansas City has been a decent under bet with a total record of 25-35-4.
Brad Keller will get the nod for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Keller is 1-2 with a 2.12 ERA and 19 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Athletics this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Athletics are putting the ball in the left hand of Sean Manaea (5-6, 3.59 ERA, 1.01 WHIP), who has 58 punchouts and 18 walks this season. Manaea did not record a start against the Royals in 2017.
Oakland’s pitching staff has allowed 4.3 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The clubs starters have an ERA of 4.11, a WHIP of 1.16 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.8. The bullpen has a 3.56 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.4 K/9.
Oakland’s offense has produced 4.4 runs per outing, including 4.9 per game over its last 10 games and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .263/.308/.421 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Athletics offense has been led by second baseman Jed Lowrie and shortstop Marcus Semien. Lowrie is slashing .285/.349/.466 with nine home runs, 42 RBIs and 25 runs scored, and Semien’s line is .259/.309/.372 with five homers, 25 RBIs and 38 runs.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starters own a 5.25 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.54 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.42, along with a WHIP of 1.45 and a K-per-9 of 7.16.
The Royals offense has slashed .249/.313/.381 on its way to 3.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.1 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 1.6 per game over the teams last five contests (1-4 SU).
Left fielder Jon Jay and second baseman Whit Merrifield continue to lead Kansas City’s hitters. Jay is hitting .307/.363/.374 with 73 hits, 18 RBIs and 28 runs scored, while Merrifield (.283/.360/.406) is up to 69 hits, 22 RBIs, 30 runs and 14 stolen bases.
The Royals have gained 2.5 units and are 13-8 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in eight of those games, as opposed to 13 that’ve hit the under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 6.5 units and are 21-22 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 21 of those games, compared to 20 which went under the total.
Kansas City Royals at Oakland Athletics MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Oakland has posted 22.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.4 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Athletics have hit 15 over their last 10.
