The Kansas City Royals will play host to the Oakland Athletics at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to showcase this AL matchup and the game gets going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Oakland Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Oakland (receiving -145) is favored over Kansas City (+135) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this night game at 9 runs (-115 for the under and -105 for the over). Runline odds stand at +100 for picking the Athletics -1.5 runs and -120 for the Royals +1.5 runs.
The Royals are 46-87 straight up (SU) and 60-72 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 24.4 units for moneyline bettors and 25.3 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Athletics are 76-55 SU and have gone 71-59 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 16.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 11.3 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Royals games have had an over/under record of 61-63-8 in 2019. The Athletics have been a decent under bet with a total record of 60-66-4.
Right-hander Tanner Roark will get the start for the visiting Athletics. Roark is 8-8 with a 3.95 ERA and 131 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Royals are handing the ball to righty Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.89 ERA), who has 146 strikeouts and 51 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.40. Junis made two starts against the team in 2018, posting a 0-2 record in 2018, putting together a 0-2 record with a 6.39 ERA.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.12, a WHIP of 1.42 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.05 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 8.5 K/9.
The Kansas City hitters are putting up 4.2 runs per outing, including 3.0 per game over its last 10 games and 3.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .238/.307/.366 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Royals’ hitters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is slashing .299/.349/.470 with 15 home runs, 66 RBIs, 86 runs and 17 steals, and Gordon is hitting .261 with 12 homers, 64 RBIs and 67 runs.
In the other dugout, Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.3 runs per game and its starters own a 4.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 6.91 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.09, along with a WHIP of 1.25.
Athletics hitters have slashed .248/.326/.446 on their way to 5.1 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman continue to lead Oakland’s hitters. Semien is hitting .275/.359/.490 with 23 home runs, 70 RBIs and 95 runs scored. Chapman is hitting .259/.343/.529 with 30 homers, 74 RBIs and 84 runs scored.
The Athletics have gained 5.4 units and are 51-46 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 43 of those games, compared to 52 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 20.2 units and are 43-54 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 46 of those games, compared to 47 which went under the total.
Athletics vs. Royals MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Oakland has recorded 21 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Kansas City has 13 XBH over its last five.
- The Athletics have hit 15 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit seven over their last 10.
- The Athletics have an OPS of .772 this season and an OPS of .755 against right-handed pitchers. The Royals’ OPS sits at .703 overall and .711 versus righties.
- Kansas City has posted 17.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.8 over its last five.
- The Royals have dropped six of their last seven games SU.
