The Athletics and the Kansas City Royals meet Thursday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Athletics will send out Gage Jump for the start here and Jump is 5-7 with a 4.50 ERA and 85 strikeouts this season. Randy Dobnak will start for Kansas City and is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 25 strikeouts this season.
Athletics Recap
The Athletics come into this game looking to bounce back from a 9-7 loss at the hands of Kansas City last time out to sit at 49-78 this season. After this series, the Athletics will head on the road for a series against Houston.
Athletics Lose 7 Of Last 9 Games
Shea Langeliers has 99 hits with 19 doubles, 23 home runs and 51 RBIs while Tyler Soderstrom’s added 97 hits with 27 doubles, 3 triples, 19 home runs and 56 RBIs. Jacob Wilson also has 85 hits with 16 doubles, 7 home runs and 37 RBIs and Nick Kurtz has 90 hits with 15 doubles, 21 home runs and 69 RBIs this season.
Kansas City Royals Recap
The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to build on their win over the Athletics on Wednesday to climb to 54-74 this season. After this series, the Royals will take on the Detroit Tigers at home.
Royals Win 4 Straight
Jac Caglianone has 113 hits with 21 doubles, 22 home runs, 58 RBIs and 2 triples while Bobby Witt Jr. has 117 hits with 25 doubles, 14 home runs and 43 RBIs and Vinnie Pasquantino’s added 68 hits with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs and 33 RBIs on the year. Maikel Garcia also has 70 hits with 17 doubles, 3 home runs and 30 RBIs this season. Carter Jensen’s also chipped in 89 hits with 24 doubles, 16 home runs and 56 RBIs this season.
Athletics @ Kansas City Royals Betting Trends: August 20, 2026
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Randy Dobnak Record this season: 2-1 ERA: 1.73
- Home Record: 1-1
- Last 5 against Athletics: 0-0
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The Athletics have lost each of their last eight games against AL Central opponents.
- The Royals have won eight of their last nine home games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Athletics have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games against AL Central opponents.
- The Royals have covered the run line in seven of their last eight games as favorites against AL West opponents following a win.
- The Athletics have lost the first inning in each of their last three day games against AL Central opponents.
- The Athletics have trailed after 5 innings in five of their last six road day games.
- The Athletics have trailed after 3 innings in four of their last five day games against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Gage Jump Record this season: 5-7 ERA: 4.50
- Road Record: 3-2
- Last 5 against Royals: –
Why the Athletics will win
- The Royals have lost each of their last nine Thursday day games.
- The Athletics have won 15 of their last 23 games as road underdogs against the Royals.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight Thursday home games against American League opponents.
- The Athletics have covered the run line in each of their last six Thursday day road games.
- The Athletics have won the first inning in three of their last four road games.
- The Athletics have led after 5 innings in each of their last seven Thursday day games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Athletics have led after 3 innings in each of their last seven Thursday day games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
Total Runs Facts
- Six of the Athletics’ last seven games against AL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Royals’ last three day games against AL West opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the Athletics’ last seven games against AL Central opponents.
- There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the Royals’ last six home games.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Randy Dobnak has recorded four or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has hit a home run in four of the Royals’ last five Thursday games against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 home appearances against AL West opponents.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranks T3rd in the league in Steals (33) this season.
Athletics Player Prop Facts
- Brian Serven has hit a home run in each of his last two road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Zack Gelof has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Royals rank 3rd in the league for doubles this season (227).
- The Royals rank 28th in the league for ERA this season (4.79).
- The Athletics rank 30th in the league for home runs allowed this season (196).
- The Athletics rank 30th in the league for runs allowed this season (736).
Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction
I’m backing the under here. I think these are two of the better options in their respective rotations, as ump has been really good for the Athletics on the road this season while Dobnak has been one of the stronger options in the Royals’ rotation/bullpen. I think this is another 4-3 kind of game, so give me the under in this one.