Kansas City Royals vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Kansas City Royals Poised for Victory Against Struggling Houston Astros

The Kansas City Royals (25-18) will be aiming for a series win as they visit Daikin Park to take on the Houston Astros (20-20) in the final game of their three-game series at 8:10 PM ET. Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 3.57 ERA) is set to start for the Royals, while the Astros have not announced their starting pitcher. Houston and Kansas City have split their last 10 meetings. The Astros are currently the betting favorite at -137. Please note that this preview was written before Tuesday's game was played.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Royals +118 | Astros -137
• Spread: Royals +1.5 (-178) | Astros -1.5 (+150)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 58%.

Kansas City vs Houston Stats

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals ended their two-game losing streak with a victory over the Houston Astros in the first game of their series. They have recently achieved back-to-back road series wins and aim to continue this streak in their upcoming game on Wednesday.

The Royals have struggled offensively, averaging 3.49 runs per game which ranks 26th in the league. Their .243 batting average places them 15th in the league, while their .301 on-base percentage and .361 slugging percentage rank 25th. Bobby Witt Jr. leads the team with a .319 batting average and 25 RBI, while Vinnie Pasquantino has hit six home runs.

Defensively, Kansas City has excelled, allowing only 3.30 runs per game which is the second-best in the league. Opponents have a .231 batting average against the Royals, putting them at eighth in the league. Their 3.01 ERA ranks second in the league, with a 1.18 WHIP placing them fifth.

In his last start, pitcher Lorenzen pitched a strong game, giving up no runs and three hits in seven innings leading to a 2-1 victory over Boston. However, he has struggled against Houston, holding a 0-2 record with a 7.90 ERA in five games against them.

With a power ranking of 6, the Royals are ranked 27th in offense, scoring an average of 3.40 runs per game, and are second in defense, allowing an average of 3.26 runs per game. Overall, the team has a record of 25-19 this season.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros recently bounced back with a series win over Cincinnati after a loss to Milwaukee. They are currently third in the AL West standings, two games behind Seattle. With an average of 4.20 runs per game, they rank 12th in the league for batting average (.250) and on-base percentage (.323), and 21st for slugging percentage (.376). Jake Meyers leads the team with a .298 batting average, Jeremy Pena with five home runs, and Yainer Diaz with 21 RBI. Defensively, Houston is giving up 3.73 runs per game, ranking seventh in the league, with opponents batting .216 against them, second in the league. Their 3.53 ERA ranks eighth, and their 1.15 WHIP ranks third. The Astros have a power ranking of 9 and are currently ranked 17th for offense and 7th for defense, with an overall record of 21-20. Additionally, Kansas City recently won 2 out of 3 matchups against Houston.

Kansas City Royals Poised for Victory Against Struggling Houston Astros

The Kansas City Royals have displayed strong performance, winning six of their last seven road games, whereas the Houston Astros have faced challenges, losing five of their last eight games. The Royals have shown offensive prowess and consistency in hitting the ball effectively in recent matchups, giving them a competitive advantage. Despite Houston's impressive pitching, their recent struggles, including conceding five runs or more in two out of their last three games, have left them vulnerable. Additionally, Houston's bullpen has shown signs of weakness, posing difficulties in containing the Royals. Conversely, the Royals' pitcher, Lorenzen, has demonstrated proficiency on the mound, allowing only six runs in his last three starts. Given Kansas City's strong bullpen ranking in the league, they are well-positioned to impede Houston's offensive capabilities. Therefore, it is recommended to bet on Kansas City for the win.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]