Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, Pick and Preview, July 4 (7/4): MLB

Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, Pick and Preview, July 4 (7/4): MLB

Credit: photo by Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds

Time 4:10 p.m. EST
Royals money line +205
Royals run line +1.5 (+105)
Astros money line -238
Astros run line -1.5 (-118)
Over / under 9

 

Key stats

  Kansas City Royals  Houston Astros
Record 29-48 51-27
Home / home record 15-23 24-11
Last 10 record 4-6 8-2
Streak W1 W6
Over / under record 37-36-4 26-47-5
Runs / game 3.84 4.40
Runs allowed / game 5.13 3.24

 

Preview

The Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals will meet again to play a 4-game series at the Minute Maid Park. The Royals won their last series against the Tigers while the Astros swept the Angels and are 2-1 against the Royals this season.

Kansas City Royals

The Royals get to this game with a 29-48 record and have won 3 of their last 4 games. The team is averaging 3.8 runs per game. They're batting for .239 AVG, 296 runs scored in 620 hits and 63 home runs, ranking #27 in offense in the league behind the Seattle Mariners. Andrew Benitendi is batting for a .308 AVG. and 29 RBI while Salvador Perez has 11 home runs and 34 RBI.

Defensively they are allowing 5.1 runs per game and ranking #25 in the league. Daniel Lynch leads the team with a 4.95 ERA, 65 strikeouts and 3 wins recorded for the Royals.

Probable Pitcher: Jonathan Heasley (1-4, 5.20 ERA)

Heasley will take the mound in the 1st game of the series for the Royals. Heasley took the loss in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Rangers after allowing seven earned runs on nine hits, two walks, and three strikeouts over 3.2 innings.

Houston Astros

The Astros get here with a 51-27 record and have won 6 games in a row. They're averaging 4.4 runs and batting for .235 AVG, 337 runs scored in 592 hits and 101 home runs, ranking #14 in offense in the league behind the Texas Rangers. Yordan Alvarez leads the team batting for .317 avg with 22 home runs and 54 RBI.

Defensively they are allowing 3.2 runs per game and ranking #2 in the league. Justin Verlander leads the pitching staff with a 2.03 ERA, 90 strikeouts and 10 wins recorded for the Astros.

Probable Pitcher:   Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.13 ERA)

Odorizzi will be on the mound in the 4th game of the series for the Astros. The Astros will use a six-man rotation this week, with Odorizzi pitching again, and Justin Verlander starting on Thursday to manage his workload. Odorizzi recently made two rehab starts, recording a 2.25 ERA and 0.88 WHIP while striking out 10 batters in eight innings. He has a record of 3-6 with an ERA of 5.48 and 64 strikeouts in 15 appearances against the Royals in his career.

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Kansas City's last 11 games on the road.

Kansas City are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games when playing on the road against Houston.

Houston Astros are 6-0 SU in their last 6 games.

Houston Astros are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games at home.

Prediction

The Astros are on a hot streak and have won 8 of their last 10 games. They'll send Jake Odorizzi to the mound who hasn't pitched since May 16 vs Boston where he allowed 2 runs in 5 innings. He has struggled against the Royals in his career holding a 5.48 ERA. The Royals won their last series but it was against one of the worst teams in the league, the Tigers. Heasley will start for the Royals and he has struggled this season allowing 13 runs in his last 12.2 innings pitched. Expect a high scoring game as both starters will get pounded. Take the over.

PICK: Over 9 (-110)

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