The Kansas City Royals are set to face off against the Boston Red Sox in a Wednesday showdown. This AL matchup will get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City to catch the game.
Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox Odds
Boston (-310) is the massive favorite against Kansas City (+255) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this one at 11 runs. Odds for betting on the game’s total currently sit at -115 for the over and -105 for the under. The game’s current runline odds stand at +125 for taking the Royals +1.5 runs and -145 for the Red Sox -1.5.
The Red Sox are 60-56 straight up (SU) and 48-68 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 25.4 units for moneyline bettors and 26.9 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread just once in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. On the other hand, the Royals are 41-74 SU and have gone 54-61 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 19.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 18.9 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Red Sox games have had an over/under record of 69-44-3 in 2019. Kansas City has an over/under record of 56-51-8.
Glenn Sparkman is getting the nod for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Sparkman is 3-7 with a 5.58 ERA and 51 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 1.69 ERA against Boston this year.
The Red Sox will put the ball in the left hand of Eduardo Rodriguez (13-5, 4.19 ERA, 1.32 WHIP), who’s got 139 strikeouts and 50 walks. Rodriguez is 1-0 with seven strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
Boston’s pitching staff has given up 5.2 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has a 5.09 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.46 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 10.6 K/9.
The Boston hitters are putting up 5.7 runs per contest, including 4.1 per game over its last 10 games and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .234/.304/.401 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Rafael Devers and shortstop Xander Bogaerts have led the Red Sox batters this year. Devers is slashing .321/.369/.568 with 23 home runs, 87 RBIs and 93 runs scored, and the line for Bogaerts stands at .307/.387/.563 with 25 homers, 85 RBIs and 89 runs scored.
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.19 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.42 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.79, along with a WHIP of 1.43 and a K-per-9 of 8.44.
The Royals offense has slashed .246/.312/.401 on its way to 4.3 runs scored per game this season, including 3.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s offense has been fueled by second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is hitting .301/.356/.478 with 12 home runs, 55 RBIs, 77 runs and 16 stolen bases, while Gordon (.271/.344/.422) has produced 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 61 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 4.3 units and are 14-17 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 13 of those games, compared to 14 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Red Sox have lost 14.1 units and are 34-47 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 47 of those games, as opposed to 32 that’ve cashed the under.
Royals at Red Sox MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has cashed in three of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- The Royals have a total OPS of .712 this season, including an OPS of .688 against left-handed pitchers. The Red Sox’ OPS sits at .818 overall and .791 against southpaws.
- Kansas City has recorded 19.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.4 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
