Royals vs. Rangers Prediction
The Rangers are off to a slow start but beat the Royals last night in extra innings. Can they pick up another victory tonight?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Rangers are -160 money line favorites versus the Royals, who have odds of +144 to pull off the upset in Arlington. With Nate Karns set to oppose Cole Hamels in the pitching matchup, the over/under currently sits at 8.5 runs.
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Karns allowed just one run on four hits while walking two batters in six innings against the Angels last Saturday. He received a no-decision and is still searching for his first win in 2017. He carries a 4.38 ERA and a 3.12 WHIP into tonight’s matchup with the Rangers, allowing six earned runs over 12 1/3 combined innings this season.
Hamels is also in search of his first win of 2017 despite turning in two quality starts in his first three games of the season. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out two and walking two in Sunday’s no-decision against the Mariners. He owns a 3.50 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.
Bet Tonight’s Royals vs. Rangers Game
OUR PICK: After losing 1-0 in extra innings last night, the Royals are now 8-20 in their last 28 road games versus the Rangers and are winless in their last seven games overall versus Texas. The Rangers, meanwhile, are 11-1 in Hamels’ last 12 home starts when he faces a team with a losing record and they’ve won 18 of his last 23 home starts overall.
FRIDAY MLB FREE PICK: TEXAS RANGERS -160