The struggling Kansas City Royals are trying to avoid losing their ninth consecutive game when they play host to the Texas Rangers at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will be showing this AL matchup.
Texas Rangers at Kansas City Royals Odds
Texas (+105) is the underdog to Kansas City (-115) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 9.5 runs. The odds for betting on the games total stand at -110 for both the over and the under. Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the most recent runline odds standing at -200 for the Rangers +1.5 runs and +170 for the Royals -1.5 runs.
The Royals are 22-51 straight up (SU) and 32-40 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 20.9 units for moneyline bettors and 16.0 units (ATS). Kansas City has a – ATS mark over its last seven games and the . On the other hand, the Rangers are 31-44 SU and have gone 34-40 ATS. Overall, the teams lost 4.3 units for moneyline gamblers and 12.0 units ATS. Texas is – ATS over its last seven games and the Royals games have an over/under record of 28-40-4 so far in 2018. Texas has an over/under record of 34-35-5.
Austin Bibens-Dirkx will get the nod for the Rangers. The right-handed Bibens-Dirkx (0-1, 6.55 ERA) has recorded 11 punchouts in 11 innings so far. He’s 0-1 with six strikeouts and a 5.68 ERA against Kansas City this year.
The Royals will put the ball in the right hand of Jakob Junis (5-7, 4.43 ERA, 1.21 WHIP), who has 79 strikeouts and 20 walks. Junis has yet to face the Rangers this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.
Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.6 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has a 5.23 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.60 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
The Kansas City offense has produced 3.6 runs per outing, including 2.0 per game over its last 10 games and 2.6 per game over its last five. The teams hit .188/.257/.256 over its last five games and is 0-5 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have paced the Royals hitters this year. Merrifield is hitting .290/.368/.416 with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 31 runs and 16 stolen bases, and Moustakas is hitting .264 with 13 homers, 47 RBIs and 34 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Texas pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.52 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 6.83 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.73, along with a WHIP of 1.48.
Rangers hitters have slashed .233/.319/.393 on their way to 4.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.3 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 6.6 per game over the teams last five contests (4-1 SU).
Shin-soo Choo and Nomar Mazara have paced Texas hitters. Choo is slashing .278/.391/.473 with 13 home runs, 32 RBIs and 44 runs scored, while Mazara is slashing .276/.342/.489 with 14 homers, 46 RBIs and 40 runs scored.
Texas Rangers vs. Kansas City Royals Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Texas has logged 14 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Kansas City has eight XBH over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
- Kansas City has recorded 13.4 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 games and 14.6 over its last five.
- The Royals have dropped 14 of their last 15 games SU.
