Boston Red Sox vs
Kansas City RoyalsPredictions & Preview

Boston Red Sox to take on Kansas City Royals in crucial Wild Card showdown - Bello vs Lugo on the mound

The American League Wild Card contenders Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals are set to face off in the second game of their three-game series on Tuesday night. The Red Sox, currently 3rd in the AL East, are 2 ½ games behind the Royals, who are 3rd in the AL Central, for the final Wild Card spot. Boston will have Brayan Bello on the mound with a 10-5 record and a 5.13 ERA, while Kansas City will have Seth Lugo pitching, with a 13-5 record and a 2.57 ERA. The game will take place at Kauffman Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 8:10 EST. Note that the odds favor Kansas City as the betting favorite with a line of -133 that has not moved.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Red Sox +122 | Royals -133
• Spread: Red Sox -1.5 (-173) | Royals -1.5 (+155)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Kansas City will win straight-up is 57%.

Boston vs Kansas City Stats

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have shown improvement in their performance after a tough stretch following the All-Star break. They won three of their last four games, scoring an impressive 25 runs in that span. Their offense has been strong overall, leading the American League in batting average and scoring the most runs in the past 30 days. All-Star Jarren Duran has been a standout player, hitting safely in 14 of his last 15 games and posting a high average. The pitching staff has had some struggles, with a high ERA over the last month, but still maintaining a winning record. In terms of power ranking, Boston is ranked 20th overall, with a strong offense and a slightly weaker defense. The team currently holds a 59-51 record for the season.

Kansas City Royals Analysis

The Kansas City Royals have been performing exceptionally well in the second half of the season, with an 11-5 record since the break and a standout road trip where they averaged 6.6 runs per game. The team has scored 536 runs through 113 games, ranking fifth in the American League. In terms of catching, Freddy Fermin and Salvador Perez have been a strong duo, hitting a combined .288 with 55 extra-base hits and 104 RBIs. The pitching staff has also been impressive, with a 3.41 ERA over their last 22 games and a strong performance from ace Lugo, who leads in wins and has a 2.57 ERA. The bullpen ranks 10th in the NL with a 4.20 ERA. Unfortunately, the team is still unsure of when reliever John Schreiber will return this season. The Royals have a power ranking of 2 and are ranked #9 for offense, averaging 4.76 runs per game. In their last three matchups against Boston, the Red Sox went 1-2 against Kansas City.

Boston Faces Uphill Battle Against Kansas City After Winning Series Opener

Recently, Boston and Kansas City faced off in a three-game series, with Boston winning two out of three games at home. Boston has faced challenges at the start of the second half of the season, with a record of 6-9 prior to this series. Bello secured a win against the Royals in July, despite allowing several runs and hits, including home runs. Bello has an ERA of 4.78 in road games this season. Lugo, on the other hand, struggled against Boston in July but has since shown improvement with strong performances in recent starts. Lugo has impressive statistics while playing at Kauffman Stadium this season. Considering these factors, the Royals have a slight edge in this upcoming game against the Red Sox.

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