Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers Free Pick

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The Texas Rangers are prepared to battle against the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Park. This AL matchup will be televised nationally on Fox Sports One and the game gets underway 4:05 p.m. ET.

Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers Odds

Kansas City (+125) is coming into this one as the underdog against Texas (-135) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this day game at 10 runs. The odds for wagering on the games total sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. Runline odds stand at -170 for betting the Royals +1.5 runs and +150 for the Rangers -1.5 runs.

The Royals are 17-34 SU and are 23-27 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 10.8 units for moneyline bettors and 8.0 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Rangers, on the other hand, are 21-32 SU and 21-31 ATS. The team has lost 4.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 15.3 units ATS. Texas has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone over in three of those seven.

Texas games have an over/under record of 25-22-5 so far in 2018. The Royals have been a decent under bet with a total record of 19-28-3.

Ian Kennedy will get the start for the Royals. The right-handed Kennedy is 1-5 with a 5.30 ERA and 50 strikeouts. He has yet to face Texas this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 0-0 record with a 1.98 ERA and nine strikeouts.

The Rangers are putting the ball in the hands of righty Bartolo Colon (2-2, 3.51 ERA), who has 36 strikeouts and five walks, as well as a 0.92 WHIP. Colon only made one start against the Royals in 2017 (0-1, 32.40 ERA across one and 2-third innings).

As a unit, Texas pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018. The clubs starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.29, a WHIP of 1.46 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.3. The bullpen has a 4.16 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 8.4 K/9.

The Texas offense is putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 5.5 per game over its last 10 games and 6.6 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .233/.348/.497 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.

The Rangers batters have been led by Nomar Mazara and Shin-soo Choo. Mazara is slashing .268/.332/.505 with 12 home runs, 34 RBIs and 30 runs scored, and Choo is hitting .259 with seven homers, 22 RBIs and 31 runs.

Mazara performed well against righty pitching at home in 2017. Across 240 such plate appearances, he slashed .312/.379/.526 (his total season line was .253/.323/.422).

In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starters own a 5.48 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.24 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.16, along with a K/9 of 6.95.

Royals hitters have slashed .256/.322/.385 on their way to 4.0 runs scored per game this season, including 3.9 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.4 per game over the teams last five outings (3-2 SU).

Left fielder Jon Jay and third baseman Mike Moustakas continue to lead Kansas City’s hitters. Jay is hitting .291/.349/.337 with 57 hits, 13 RBIs and 20 runs scored, while Moustakas is slashing .281/.333/.513 with 56 hits, 11 homers, 33 RBIs and 28 runs scored.

The Royals have lost 13.5 units and are 12-20 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 12 of those games, compared to 17 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rangers have lost 1.2 units and are 16-21 ATS when facing a righty starter. The overs hit in 17 of those games, compared to 18 that went under the total.

Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers Free Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER

Betting Notes

  • The Royals have hit six home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
  • Texas has recorded 18.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 21.4 over its last five.
  • The Rangers have won three of their last four games SU.