Kansas City Royals vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Houston Astros Favored to Win Against Kansas City Royals in American League Matchup on May 12

The Kansas City Royals will face off against the Houston Astros in an American League matchup on Monday, May 12. The Royals, with a record of 24-18, are in contention for the top spot in the AL Central, relying on strong pitching to keep them competitive. The Astros, with a record of 20-19, are also at the top of the AL West. The game will feature Michael Wacha starting for the Royals and Framber Valdez starting for the Astros. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 P.M. EST. Houston is the early betting favorite at -118, with the current line at Houston -115.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Royals +101 | Astros -115
• Spread: Royals 0 (-32) | Astros 0 (-9)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 53%.

Kansas City vs Houston Stats

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are currently 24-18 overall this season, placing them in third in the American League Central Division, 2.5 games behind the first place Tigers. They have a record of 8-11 on the road. After a seven-game winning streak, the Royals have lost their last two games, including a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox on May 11. Starting pitcher Michael Wacha, with a record of 2-4 and a 2.98 ERA, will take the mound in their upcoming game against the Astros. The Royals are hitting .242 as a team and have scored the fifth fewest runs in the league, despite having the fewest home runs. They have struck out the fewest times while hitting the sixth most doubles. With a power ranking of 11, the Royals are ranked 26 in offense, scoring an average of 3.53 runs per game, and first in defense, allowing an average of 3.10 runs per game.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros are currently 20-19 overall this season, placing them in second in the American League West division, just two games behind the Mariners. They have a 13-8 record when playing at home and have won three of their last four games. In their recent victory against the Reds, Yanier Diaz hit a three-run homer and Ronel Blanco pitched 8 dominant innings, allowing only two runs and striking out 11 batters. Framber Valdez will start the next game against the Royals, with a 2-4 record and a 3.94 ERA this season. The Astros offense is averaging 3.1 runs per game when Valdez starts. Overall, the team is hitting .248 this season, ranking 12th in the league. Defensively, they are giving up an average of 3.49 points per game, ranking 5th in the league for defense. The Astros have a power ranking of 16 and are ranked 19th for offense. They have a 19-19 overall record and Kansas City went 1-2 in their last 3 matchups against Houston.

Astros' Framber Valdez Shines on Mound Against Struggling Royals Offense

Houston's Framber Valdez has emerged as a standout performer for the team, boasting an impressive 3.50 home ERA this season. Valdez's ability to pitch deep into games was on full display in his recent 7.0-inning outing. In contrast, the struggling Royals offense has had difficulty producing runs against left-handed pitchers, ranking poorly in both runs scored and home runs hit. It is unlikely that Kansas City's offense will have a breakout performance on the road in this matchup. Despite some inconsistencies, the Astros have a stronger home record, hitting .266 at home, and will be facing Michael Wacha, who has not had much success on the road with the Royals posting a 1-2 record in his road starts. With these factors in mind, it is advisable to take the Astros to cover in this game.

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