The Kansas City Royals will be taking the field against the Texas Rangers in a Sunday showdown. Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast this AL matchup and the opening pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers Odds
Kansas City (+120) is entering this game as the underdog to Texas (-130) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this one at 11 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total currently sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. The game’s current runline odds sit at -175 for taking the Royals +1.5 runs and +155 for the Rangers -1.5.
The Royals are just 19-39 SU and are 29-28 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 12.2 units for moneyline bettors and 6.8 units ATS. The Rangers, on the other hand, are 29-27 SU and 33-22 ATS. The team’s gained 8.2 units for moneyline bettors and 7.3 units ATS.
Rangers games have a 29-25-1 over/under record so far in 2019. Kansas City has an over/under record of 29-24-4.
Brad Keller will get the start for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Keller (3-6, 4.56 ERA) has racked up 48 punchouts in 71 innings so far. He has yet to face the Rangers this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Rangers are putting the ball in the hands of righty Adrian Sampson (3-3, 4.53 ERA), who has 35 strikeouts and 13 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.49. Sampson did not record a start against the Royals in 2018.
As a unit, Texas’ pitching staff has given up 5.3 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.05, a WHIP of 1.52 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.6. The bullpen has a 4.96 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 7.8 K/9.
The Texas hitters are putting up 5.7 runs per contest, including 4.9 per game over its last 10 games and 6.6 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .267/.337/.430 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Rangers’ batters have been led by Shin-soo Choo and Elvis Andrus. Choo is hitting .300/.385/.547 with 10 home runs, 26 RBIs and 38 runs scored, and the line for Andrus stands at .302/.348/.460 with six homers, 28 RBIs, 28 runs and 10 steals.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.58 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.54 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.67, along with a WHIP of 1.48 and a K-per-9 of 8.77.
Royals hitters have slashed .246/.317/.412 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this season, including 3.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Adalberto Mondesi have led Kansas City’s offense. Merrifield is slashing .300/.355/.508 with seven home runs, 28 RBIs, 41 runs and eight stolen bases, while Mondesi (.287/.324/.487) is up to six homers, 42 RBIs, 35 runs and 21 steals.
The Royals have lost 10.1 units and are 21-21 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 24 of those games, compared to 16 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rangers have netted 7.5 units and are 20-16 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 19 of those games, compared to 17 which went under the total.
Royals vs. Rangers Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in four of Texas’ last seven games.
- The Royals have a total OPS of .728 this season and an OPS of .753 against right-handed pitchers. The Rangers’ OPS stands at .793 overall and .821 versus righties.
- The Royals have lost five of their last six games SU while the Rangers have won four of their last five.
- Texas has recorded 20.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 25.0 over its last five.
- Both teams have hit 11 home runs over their last 10 games.
