A’s vs. Royals Prediction
Will the Royals snap their three-game losing streak when they host the A’s tonight at 8:15PM ET?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Royals are -130 money line favorites versus the A’s, who have odds of +110 to pull off the upset tonight. With Jesse Hahn set to face Jason Vargas in the pitching matchup, the over/under currently sits at 8.5 runs.
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Hahn will replace Raul Alcantara in the starting rotation following Alcantara’s disastrous outing last Friday in which he was shelled for eight earned runs over two innings versus the Rangers. Hahn threw six innings of relief in that game, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while walking one. In nine starts last year, Hahn posted a nasty 6.02 ERA over 46 1/3 innings.
Vargas picked up the win last Friday against the Astros when he struck out six batters and walked one over six innings. He gave up just one run while scattering six hits in the victory. It was Vargas’ first win since 2015 and looks fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, which cost him most of last season.
Bet Tonight’s A’s vs. Royals Game
OUR PICK: Dating back nearly two years ago, the Royals are a perfect 7-0 in Vargas’ last seven starts, are 7-0 in his last seven home starts and are 4-0 in his last four outings when facing American League West rivals. The A’s., meanwhile, have dropped five of their last seven games coming off a win and are 2-7 in their last nine games after scoring five runs or more in their previous contest.
THURSDAY MLB FREE PICK: KANSAS CITY ROYALS -130