Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Betting Picks & Predictions
The Houston Astros will face off against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET. The Astros, with a record of 81-81
Game outlook
The Houston Astros will face off against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET. The Astros, with a record of 4-8 SU, 4-8 RL, and 3-8-1 O/U, will start right-hander Hunter Brown, who has a 81-81 record with a 6.43 ERA. The Royals, currently at 7-4 SU, 7-4 RL, and 3-7-1 O/U, will counter with right-hander Brady Singer, who holds a 69-93 record with a 0.68 ERA. Houston opens as the betting favorite at -126 with no movement on the line.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Astros -126 | Royals +112
Spread: Astros -1.5 (+125) | Royals +1.5 (-147)
Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 56%.
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros have struggled in the early part of the season, losing 8 of their first 12 games. They have not been able to find their footing since their season-opening series against New York. Despite ranking 10th in on-base percentage and 9th in OPS, the team has struggled offensively, launching 16 home runs but only accumulating 47 RBI. The pitching staff has posted a 3.82 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, with Thursday's starting pitcher Hunter Brown struggling in his 2024 debut. Brown has a 2.57 WHIP and has shown inconsistency in his performance, with a decline in ERA across the latter part of last season. With a power ranking of 17, the Astros are ranked 17th in offense, 10th in defense, and have a record of 81-81 so far. Can they turn things around before facing the Rangers again?