Kansas City Royals vs
Oakland AthleticsPredictions & Preview

Seth Lugo leads Kansas City Royals to face struggling Oakland Athletics in upcoming matchup

In an upcoming game between the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics, Seth Lugo will be the starting pitcher for the Royals with a 10-2 record and a 2.40 ERA. Mitch Spence will be on the mound for the struggling Athletics, with a 4-3 record and a 3.95 ERA. The Royals are currently third in the AL Central with a record of 41-33, while the Athletics are last in the AL West with a record of 27-48. The betting favorite for the game is Kansas City, with the current line at -154.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Royals -154 | Athletics +138
• Spread: Royals -1.5 (+101) | Athletics +1.5 (-120)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Kansas City will win straight-up is 61%.

Kansas City vs Oakland Stats

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals have demonstrated a strong offensive performance this season, ranking 13th in the majors with a .716 team OPS and averaging 4.81 runs per game. Despite struggling with plate patience, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has stood out with an impressive .913 OPS, 11 home runs, 51 RBI, 59 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. Pitcher Seth Lugo, however, has faced challenges with his performance metrics, particularly in whiff and strikeout percentages. The team has also been dealing with a number of injuries to key players, including Hunter Renfroe and Michael Wacha. Despite these setbacks, the Royals are ranked 25th in power rankings with a record of 41-34, showcasing a strong offense and defense.

Oakland Athletics Analysis

The Oakland Athletics have struggled offensively this season, ranking 25th in the majors with a team OPS of .666 and scoring an average of 3.66 runs per game. Despite this, they have shown power at the plate, ranking fifth in total home runs. Center fielder JJ Bleday has been a standout performer with a .820 OPS, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and 32 runs scored. Pitcher Mitch Spence has been facing challenges, with below-average statistics in strikeout percentage, average exit velocity, hard hit percentage, and whiff percentage. He has a successful changeup pitch, limiting hitters to a .250 batting average and slugging percentage. The team has several players dealing with injuries, including Alex Wood, Ken Waldichuk, Paul Blackburn, and others. The Oakland Athletics have an overall record of 28-48, ranking 26th in power and facing recent losses against the Kansas City Royals. Additionally, they rank 28th for offense and 25th for defense.

Seth Lugo Shines as Royals Ready to Take on Struggling Athletics

In the past seven games, Seth Lugo has excelled with a 5-1 record, 3.15 ERA, and a 1.09 WHIP in 45.2 innings, whereas Mitch Spence has struggled with a 1-2 record, 4.18 ERA, and a 1.36 WHIP in 32.1 innings. Additionally, there is a noticeable disparity in offensive performance, with the Royals averaging 4.5 runs in their last 12 games compared to the Athletics who have scored only three runs in their last 13 games. Given these statistics, the Kansas City Royals appear poised to secure a victory in the upcoming matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]