The Kansas City Royals will head west to play the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The first pitch is scheduled for 10:07 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will showcase this AL showdown.
Kansas City Royals at Oakland Athletics Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Oakland (-300) as the favorite over Kansas City (+250). The total stands at 10 runs and bettors can wager on the over for +100 or the under for -120. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds standing at Royals +1.5 runs (+120) and Athletics -1.5 runs (-140).
The Royals are 55-95 SU and have gone 69-80 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 21.5 units for moneyline gamblers and 24.6 units ATS. The Athletics, on the other hand, are 90-60 SU and 85-64 ATS. The team has gained 25.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 19.8 units ATS.
Oakland games have had an over/under record of 69-75-5 in 2019. Royals games have gone over 73 times, gone under 68 times and pushed on eight instances.
Glenn Sparkman is getting the nod for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Sparkman (4-11, 5.94 ERA) has recorded 72 strikeouts in 122.2 innings so far. He’s 0-1 with a 14.54 ERA against Oakland this year.
The Athletics will turn to righty Tanner Roark (10-8, 4.01 ERA), who has 144 strikeouts and 47 walks, in addition to a 1.36 WHIP. Roark is 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 6.00 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
Oakland’s pitching staff has allowed 4.3 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 4.10 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.06 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.
Oakland’s hitters are putting up 5.3 runs per outing, including 7.4 per game over its last 10 games and 7.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .254/.332/.547 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that span.
Shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman have led the way for the Athletics’ offense this year. Semien is hitting .281/.364/.513 with 30 home runs, 85 RBIs and 115 runs scored, and Chapman’s line sits at .251/.344/.517 with 34 homers, 85 RBIs and 96 runs.
For the visiting squad, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.20 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.28 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.12, along with a K/9 of 8.62.
Royals hitters have slashed .245/.310/.400 on their way to 4.2 runs scored per game this season, including 3.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Jorge Soler continue to lead Kansas City’s offense. Merrifield is slashing .306/.353/.473 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, 97 runs and 18 stolen bases, while Soler (.257/.346/.554) is up to 44 homers, 108 RBIs and 84 runs scored.
Royals vs. Athletics Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Kansas City has logged 17 extra-base hits over its last five games. Oakland has 25 XBH over its last five.
- The Royals have a total OPS of .709 this season and an OPS of .716 against right-handed pitchers. The Athletics’ OPS sits at .783 overall and .773 against righties.
- The Athletics have won eight of their last nine games SU.
- Kansas City has recorded 21.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.8 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
