The Boston Red Sox will be taking on the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. This AL showdown is going to be nationally broadcasted on Fox and the first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Vegas is listing Boston (-215) as the favorite over Kansas City (+195). The total is sitting at 9 runs and bettors can take the over for even money (+100) or the under for -120. The games most recent runline odds stand at -145 for betting the Red Sox -1.5 runs and +125 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are just 25-62 straight up (SU) and 39-47 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 25.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 15.3 units (ATS). Kansas City has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Red Sox have gone 60-29 SU this year and are 51-37 ATS. In total, the teams gained 17.4 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 13.8 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Royals games have had an over/under record of 33-49-4 so far in 2018. The Red Sox have an over/under record of 41-44-3.
David Price will get the start for the visiting Red Sox. The southpaw Price is 9-6 with a 4.28 ERA and 92 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals are sending righty Brad Keller (2-3, 2.09 ERA) to the mound. Keller has 33 strikeouts and 18 walks to his name, as well as a 1.16 WHIP. Keller is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA against Boston this year.
Boston’s pitchers have allowed 3.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.75 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.60 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.24, along with a K-per-9 of 9.48.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .267/.335/.459 on its way to 5.2 runs scored per game this season, including 6.3 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 5.8 per game over the teams last five outings (4-1 SU).
J.D. Martinez and Andrew Benintendi continue to lead Boston’s hitters. Martinez is slashing .328/.392/.647 with 27 home runs, 73 RBIs and 62 runs scored. Benintendi has a .281 average with 13 homers, 53 RBIs, 59 runs and 16 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.4 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.36, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 5.02 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 6.8 K/9.
The Kansas City hitters have put up 3.5 runs per contest, including 2.7 per game over its last 10 games and 2.8 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .238/.273/.357 over its last five matchups and is 0-5 SU during that span.
The Royals offense has been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas. Merrifield is slashing .290/.359/.414 with five home runs, 28 RBIs, 34 runs and 16 stolen bases, and Moustakas has put up a line of .258/.312/.478 with 17 homers, 55 RBIs and 39 runs.
The Red Sox have gained 18.1 units and are 40-26 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 32 of those games, compared to 32 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have netted 3.8 units and are 18-11 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in 10 of those games, compared to 19 that went under the total.
Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in three of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- The Royals have lost eight of their last nine games SU.
- Kansas City has recorded 17.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 18.8 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 18 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit six over their last 10.
