The Kansas City Royals are set to square off against the Washington Nationals in a Sunday showdown. Fox Sports Kansas City will televise this interleague matchup. The game gets underway at 1:35 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Washington Nationals Odds
Washington (-220) is the giant favorite against Kansas City (+200) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this day game at 9 runs (+110 for the under and -130 for the over). The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -110 for picking the Royals +1.5 runs and -110 for the Nationals -1.5.
The Nationals are 46-42 straight up (SU) and 45-42 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 10.1 units for moneyline bettors and 0.8 units ATS. Washington has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Royals have gone 30-60 SU this year and are 42-47 ATS. In total, the club has lost 18.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 17.2 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the over has hit in six of those seven.
Nationals games have had an over/under record of 43-38-6 thus far in 2019. Kansas City has an over/under record of 43-39-7.
Jakob Junis is getting the nod for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Junis (4-8, 5.53 ERA) has recorded 92 strikeouts in 99.1 innings so far. He has yet to face the Nationals this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Nationals will turn to lefty Patrick Corbin (7-5, 3.55 ERA), who’s got 118 strikeouts and 33 walks, in addition to a WHIP of 1.14. Corbin did not record a start against the Royals in 2018.
Washington’s pitchers have given up 4.6 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have a 3.59 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 6.06 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.
Washington’s offense is putting up 4.9 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game over its last 10 games and 4.2 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .282/.378/.482 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Outfielders Adam Eaton and Juan Soto have paced the Nationals’ batters this year. Eaton is slashing .280/.367/.383 with six home runs, 21 RBIs, 49 runs and seven steals, and Soto’s line is .304/.411/.544 with 15 homers, 56 RBIs and 52 runs scored.
For the visiting squad, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.24 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.21 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.83, along with a K/9 of 8.60.
Royals hitters have slashed .245/.310/.400 on their way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2019, including 3.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s hitters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is hitting .307/.356/.495 with 11 home runs, 44 RBIs, 62 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Gordon is hitting .272/.351/.443 with 10 homers, 54 RBIs and 47 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 4.2 units and are 12-12 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 11 of those games, compared to 10 that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Nationals have lost 3.6 units and are 35-30 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 32 of those games, compared to 30 that went under.
Royals at Nationals Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in five of Washington’s last seven games.
- The Royals have an OPS of .710 this season, including an OPS of .683 against left-handed pitchers. The Nationals’ OPS sits at .767 overall and .845 against lefties.
- The Nationals have won five of their last six games SU.
- Washington has recorded 22.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 23.4 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Nationals have hit 15 over their last 10.
