Ozzie Albies and the Atlanta Braves will be taking on the Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium in a Wednesday showdown. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to televise this interleague matchup and the first pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
Atlanta Braves at Kansas City Royals Odds
Bookmakers have Atlanta (-200) as the favorite over Kansas City (+185). The total currently stands at 9 runs and bettors can play the over for -120 and the under for even money (+100). This game currently has a runline of Braves -1.5 (-140) and Royals +1.5 (+120).
The Royals are 58-100 straight up (SU) and 74-83 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 22.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 21.9 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Braves, on the other hand, are 96-62 SU and have gone 78-79 against the spread. Overall, the club has gained 21.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.2 units ATS. Atlanta has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.
Royals games have had an over/under record of 78-71-8 in 2019. Atlanta has an over/under record of 75-74-8.
Right-hander Mike Soroka is projected to start for the visiting Braves. Soroka is 13-4 with a 2.60 ERA and 135 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Royals are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Mike Montgomery (3-9, 5.00 ERA), who’s got 65 strikeouts and 31 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.61. Montgomery is 0-1 with five strikeouts and a 7.71 ERA against Atlanta this year.
Atlanta’s pitchers have allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.16 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.16 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.28, along with a WHIP of 1.33.
Braves hitters have slashed .258/.338/.454 on their way to 5.3 runs scored per game this season, including 4.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Atlanta’s hitters have been paced by second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who’ve collectively belted 65 home runs. Albies is hitting .299/.355/.509 with 24 home runs, 84 RBIs, 100 runs and 15 steals, while Acuna Jr. has a .280 average with 41 homers, 101 RBIs, 127 runs and 37 stolen bases.
In the home-team dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have yielded 5.3 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starters have a 5.26 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.04 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 8.7 K/9.
Kansas City’s hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.8 per game over its last 10 games and 7.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .318/.405/.464 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Jorge Soler have paced the Royals’ offense this year. Merrifield is slashing .301/.348/.461 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, 103 runs and 19 stolen bases, and Soler’s line is .262/.352/.557 with 45 homers, 112 RBIs and 92 runs scored.
The Braves have gained 5.7 units and are 17-17 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 17 of those games, as opposed to 14 that’ve gone under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 15.2 units and are 55-60 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 57 of those games, as opposed to 54 which went under the total.
Braves at Royals Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Braves, ATS Winner – Braves, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in just two of Atlanta’s last seven outings.
- Atlanta fielders have six errors over the last five contests, compared to just two errors for Kansas City over its last five.
- The Braves have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
- The Braves have an OPS of .792 this season and an OPS of .790 against left-handed pitchers. The Royals’ OPS sits at .712 overall and .708 against lefties.
