Kansas City Royals vs
San Francisco GiantsPredictions & Preview

Giants Favored as MLB Season Kicks Off with Interleague Battle Against Royals at Oracle Park

The 2025 Major League Baseball season kicks off on Tuesday, May 20th at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California with an interleague battle between the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants. The Giants are currently favored with a -130 moneyline for this matchup, with the total sitting at 8.0 runs. Starting pitchers for the game will be Michael Lorenzen (Royals) with an ERA of 3.76, and Hayden Birdsong (Giants) with an ERA of 2.31. San Francisco opened as -142 favorites but the current line is San Francisco -134. Stay tuned for one of our MLB picks for Tuesday's slate. Kickoff is set for 9:45 PM ET at Oracle Park.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Royals +118 | Giants -134
• Spread: Royals +1.5 (-184) | Giants -1.5 (+160)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that San Francisco will win straight-up is 57%.

Kansas City vs San Francisco Stats

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals ended their four-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite their recent struggles, the Royals have a strong pitching staff with a 3.07 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, ranking near the top of the league. However, their offense has been struggling, ranking near the bottom for runs scored, OPS+, and home runs. Michael Lorenzen is set to start on Tuesday night with a 3.76 ERA this season. The Royals have a power ranking of 14, excelling in defense but struggling offensively, and hold a 27-22 record.

San Francisco Giants Analysis

The San Francisco Giants recently swept the Athletics in a three-game series at home and were aiming for their fourth consecutive win on Monday. Despite struggling in previous matchups against the Twins and Diamondbacks, the Giants outscored the A's 13-3 in their latest series. The team currently boasts a 3.36 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, ranking 6th and tied for 9th in the majors, respectively. Offensively, the Giants average 4.72 runs per game, with a .237/.312/.389 slash line, placing them 9th in the league. Hayden Birdsong is set to start on Tuesday, with a 1-0 record, 2.31 ERA, and 1.29 WHIP in relief appearances this season. Despite struggling in recent outings, he will look to bounce back against the upcoming opponent. The Giants hold a power ranking of 11 and are ranked 10th for offense and 8th for defense, with an overall record of 28-20. They recently faced the Kansas City Royals, resulting in a 2-1 series win for Kansas City.

Hayden Birdsong Makes Debut as Royals Face Giants with Strong Bullpen Edge

The upcoming game between the Royals and Giants will feature Hayden Birdsong making his debut against a Royals team that has struggled offensively against right-handed pitchers in recent games. The Giants boast a strong bullpen with a league-leading ERA of 2.51, which could pose a challenge for the Royals' hitters. Despite the Giants' less impressive offensive performance against righties, the Royals' bullpen has shown some vulnerabilities with a 4.55 ERA over the past 10 days. One player to watch is Wilmer Flores, who has hit 10 home runs this season and has had success against Michael Lorenzen, going 7-for-14 with three home runs. In this matchup, it may be difficult to support the Royals given their offensive struggles and bullpen performance.

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