The Kansas City Royals will head east to face the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. New England Sports Network will broadcast this AL matchup and the game gets underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Boston (-215) as the favorite over Kansas City (+195). Bettors can wager on the games total with odds sitting at -105 for over nine runs and -115 for under nine. The games runline odds stand at -110 for taking the Royals +1.5 runs and -110 for the Red Sox -1.5.
The Royals are just 7-20 SU and have gone 10-16 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 13.6 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in the seasons early going and 10.3 units ATS. Kansas City’s covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 20-7 SU and 13-13 ATS. They’ve gained 9.4 units for moneyline bettors and 0.3 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread just once in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Boston games have an over/under record of 14-11-1 thus far in 2018. Kansas City has been a decent under bet with a total record of 9-15-2.
Right-hander Jason Hammel is projected to start for the visiting Royals. Hammel is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 17 strikeouts. He has yet to face Boston this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 2-0 record with a 3.21 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
The Red Sox are turning to lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 3.63 ERA), who’s got 23 strikeouts and eight walks as well as a 1.21 WHIP. Rodriguez only made one start against the Royals in 2017 (0-0, 9.00 ERA and five strikeouts across four innings).
As a unit, Boston’s pitching staff has given up 3.3 runs per game overall in 2018. The clubs starters have a 3.05 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.56 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
The Boston hitters are putting up 5.5 runs per contest, including 4.1 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .244/.328/.387 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez have led the Red Sox batters so far. Betts is slashing .344/.439/.733 with eight home runs, 18 RBIs and 29 runs scored, while Martinez line sits at .330/.374/.567 with five homers, 22 RBIs and 15 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .303/.376/.690, Martinez appeared to enjoy hitting at home in 2017, producing .355/.439/.820 across 253 plate appearances.
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.39 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7.09 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 6.57, along with a K-per-9 of 6.46.
The Royals offense has slashed .243/.315/.366 on its way to 3.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.6 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the teams last five contests (2-3 SU).
Kansas City’s hitters have been powered by third baseman Mike Moustakas and right fielder Jorge Soler. Moustakas is hitting .302/.331/.578 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 17 runs scored, while Soler is slashing .307/.436/.467 with two homers, six RBIs and seven runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .144/.245/.258, Soler appeared to take a step back when hitting in road games last year, maintaining a slash line of just .80/.193/.120 across 57 plate appearances.
The Royals have lost 0.4 units and are 4-5 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in four of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Red Sox have netted 11.6 units and are 11-10 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in 13 of those games, as opposed to seven which went under the total.
Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Boston has posted 20.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.8 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Red Sox have hit eight over their last 10.
