Royals vs. Astros Sunday Prediction
For a second consecutive night, the Kansas City Royals gave the Houston Astros all they could handle but blew a lead in the ninth and fell in extra innings. Will Sunday’s game also be a low-scoring, competitive rubber match between the two clubs?
Game Snapshot & Odds
971 Kansas City Royals (+270) at 972 Houston Astros (-340); 7.5 runs
Sunday, June 24, 2018
2:10 p.m. ET, Minute Maid Park
TV: KC (FSKC); HOU (ATTH)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Astros as a -340 favorite. As of this writing, 71% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Astros to beat the Royals on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Royals’ Hammel allows three runs in loss to Reds
Jason Hammel let in three runs (two earned) in 7 1/3 innings and took a loss to the Reds on Wednesday. He rattled off six shutout frames before getting dinked and dunked for two runs in the seventh. He scattered seven hits and did not issue a free pass while fanning three batters in the quality start. The veteran hurler falls to 2-7 with a 4.89 ERA in 14 starts. He has a paltry 55 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings.
Astros’ Cole allows four runs in no-decision vs. Rays
Gerrit Cole allowed four runs in seven innings Monday in a no-decision against the Rays. Cole could have been tagged with just his second loss of the year, but a ninth-inning rally let him off the hook. He’s still keeping the Astros in games every time out, but he has a 4.09 ERA in his last seven starts after coming in at 1.43 in his first eight.
MLB Betting Trends
Kansas City
The Royals are 1-5 in their last six games versus the Astros but are 6-2 in their last eight games played in Houston.
Houston
The Astros are 4-0 in Cole’s last four home starts and are 6-0 in his last six starts coming off five days of rest.
Prediction:
The Royals won back-to-back games on the runline (including as a massive underdog on the money line as well in Friday night’s victory), so I’m not going to recommend laying the 1.5 runs on the Astros. For whatever reason, Kansas City gives Houston all it can handle. Thus, let’s take a look at the total. This is just my observation but it looks like the Astros are swinging for the fences in every at bat and it has suppressed their run production. If they do so again today, I like the score to stay under the total once more.
The Pick: Royals/Astros under 7.5