Cincinnati Reds (43-40) vs. Kansas City Royals (35-48)
July 6, 2021 8:10 pm EDT
The Line: Kansas City Royals +138 / Cincinnati Reds -148 ; Over/Under: 9.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals meet Tuesday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. This will be the second installment in a three-game set between these teams this week. In the series opener on Monday, the Reds bagged a four-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
The Reds played a series versus the Cubs over the weekend, winning all three games 2-1, 3-2 and 3-2. In the set opener versus the Royals on Monday, Cincinnati was out-hit 7-6 but still managed a 6-2 win. Vladimir Gutierrez went 6.0 innings with five hits, two walks and two earned.
For the starter job in the Tuesday game, the Reds are sending out Luis Castillo. Across his 90.1 innings this year, Castillo has 94 hits, 60 runs (51 earned), nine homers allowed, 38 walks, 86 strikeouts and a 5.08 ERA.
Over on the Royals’ side, they played the Twins this past weekend, winning two of the three games. On Monday versus the Reds, Kansas City gave up four runs in the seventh and torpedoed their chances. Mike Minor put up four earned, three hits and three walks in his 6.0 innings.
For the starter job in the Tuesday game, the Royals are going with Kris Bubic. This year so far Bubic is 2-4 with a 4.99 ERA and 44 strikeouts to his credit.
The Reds are 7-15 in their last 22 Tuesday games and 27-60 in their last 87 interleague road games. Cincinnati is 9-23 in their last 32 interleague road games versus a team with a losing record and the under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Royals are 19-39 in their last 58 overall and 18-37 in their last 55 on grass. KC is 73-163 in their last 236 versus a team with a winning record and 1-7 in their last eight in game two of a series.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Reds. Castillo’s season record of 3-10 isn’t great, but he hasn’t been pitching badly lately. Over his last four starts Castillo hast five earned runs on 20 hits in a span of 26.1 innings. If he can keep that up—and if the Reds offense can find some footing on the scoreboard—I think Cincinnati will be okay in this one.
