The Kansas City Royals will be taking on the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The game gets underway 1:05 p.m. ET and New England Sports Network will broadcast this AL matchup.
Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Odds
Kansas City (+175) is entering this game as the underdog to Boston (-185) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this day game at 9 runs (-115 for the over and -105 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the games runline with the odds coming in at Royals +1.5 runs (-125) and Red Sox +-1.5 runs (+105).
The Royals have gone only 8-21 SU this year and are 10-18 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 13.6 units for moneyline bettors in the seasons early going and 12.3 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only once over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 21-8 SU and 14-14 ATS. The teams gained 11.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.3 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven.
Red Sox games have an over/under record of 15-12-1 so far in 2018. Royals games have gone under 16 times, gone over 10 times and pushed on two instances.
Danny Duffy will get the nod for the visiting Royals. The southpaw Duffy is 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 28 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Red Sox this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Red Sox are turning to lefty Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 7.27 ERA), who has 11 strikeouts and four walks to his credit as well as a WHIP of 1.73. Pomeranz made two starts against the Royals in 2017, putting together a 0-0 record with a 2.08 ERA and nine strikeouts.
Boston’s pitchers have allowed 3.6 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The teams starters have an ERA of 3.17, a WHIP of 1.14 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.3. The bullpen has a 3.71 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
The Boston hitters have put up 5.7 runs per contest, including 4.2 per game over its last 10 games and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .274/.330/.426 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez have led the Red Sox hitters this year. Betts is slashing .337/.431/.717 with eight home runs, 18 RBIs and 29 runs scored, while Martinez’s line is .337/.388/.567 with five homers, 22 RBIs and 17 runs.
Betts performed well against lefty pitching at home in 2017, slashing .358/.421/.567 in 76 such plate appearances (his total season line was .264/.344/.459).
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.7 runs per game and its starters own a 4.66 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.01 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 6.33, along with a WHIP of 1.30 and a K/9 of 6.33.
Royals hitters have slashed .247/.319/.371 on their way to 3.5 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.2 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.6 per game over the teams last five contests (3-2 SU).
Kansas City’s hitters have been powered by third baseman Mike Moustakas and right fielder Jorge Soler. Moustakas is hitting .299/.333/.573 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 18 runs scored, while Soler (.306/.434/.494) has produced three homers, nine RBIs and nine runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .144/.245/.258, Soler appeared to take a step back when hitting in away games in 2017, maintaining a slash line of only .80/.193/.120 over 57 plate appearances.
The Royals have lost 0.4 units and are 4-7 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in five of those games, compared to six that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Red Sox have lost 2.2 units and are 2-3 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The overs cashed in one of those games, compared to four that’ve gone under.
Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Royals have won three of their last four games SU.
- Boston has posted 20.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 26.6 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Red Sox have hit eight over their last 10.
