Angels vs. Royals Pick
Can the Los Angeles Angels add to their four-game win streak and continue their hot start to the 2018 season when they hit the road tonight to face the Kansas City Royals at 8:15PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
915 Los Angeles Angels at 916 Kansas City Royals
Thursday, April 12, 2018
8:15PM ET, Kauffman Stadium
TV: FSKC (KC); FSW (LAA)
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Angels are favored on the road, as they are getting odds of -135 to prevail. The Royals have odds of +125 at home. Currently, 76% of the wagers are going on the Angels on the road tonight. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Angels on a hot streak
Los Angeles is coming off a three-game sweep of the Rangers in Texas to extend their win streak to four games. Overall, the Angels are off to a 10-3 start to the season, which gives them an early lead in the AL West. They currently have the top run differential in all of MLB at +39 as they average 6.62 runs per game while allowing just 3.62 per contest.
Nick Tropeano is making his 2018 MLB debut tonight on the mound for Los Angeles. He hasn’t seen action since the 2016 season when he started 13 games. Over his career, he has 24 starts with a 7-7 record, a 3.81 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.
Royals failing to find consistency
The Kansas City Royals are just 3-7 to start to the season and they have yet to string together back-to-back wins. They are coming off a home series loss to the Mariners despite winning the first game, 10-0. Their hitting has been the biggest issue as they post just 3.10 runs per game. Injuries have mounted up with Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon both on the DL. Defensively, KC is allowing 4.2 runs per contest.
It will be up to Ian Kennedy to get the Royals on track tonight. He has actually been a strong point for KC on the mound. Through two starts he is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA. Kennedy has allowed just one earned run over 12 innings with 13 strikeouts and two walks.
MLB Betting Trends
Los Angeles
The Angels have won six straight road games coming into tonight, however they are just 3-10 in their last 13 games against AL Central opponents. They have lost five straight Thursday games and 13 of their last 19 against a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Kansas City
The Royals have lost five of their last six at home and five of their last seven when Kennedy starts at home. However, the Royals have won six of their last eight after scoring two runs or less in their previous game.
Prediction:
There hasn’t been much to like about Kansas City in the early stages of the 2018 season, but I think the pitching matchup is in their favor tonight. Kennedy has looked solid and can hold his own, especially against a guy making his first start since 2016. The Angels can mash the ball, but I think their bats will go quiet tonight.
The Pick: Kansas City Royals +125