The San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals meet Saturday in MLB game 1 action at Kauffman Stadium. Here’s a Kansas City Royals vs San Diego Padres Prediction.
San Diego Padres Betting Preview
The San Diego Padres are 31-29 on the year after wins over the Yankees and Marlins. The San Diego Padres have scored 16 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 5 of their last 9 games. The San Diego Padres have won 7 straight games when scoring 4 or more runs. Jurickson Profar leads the San Diego Padres with 67 hits and 37 RBI, while Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth have combined for 116 hits and 67 RBI.
Kansas City Royals Betting Preview
The Kansas City Royals are 35-24 on the year after losses to the Rays and Twins. The Kansas City Royals have scored 20 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 7 of their last 9 games. The Kansas City Royals have won 10 of their last 13 games when scoring 4 or more runs. Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Kansas City Royals with 74 hits and 42 RBI, while Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia have combined for 131 hits and 76 RBI.
San Diego Padres vs Kansas City Royals Pitching Matchup
Joe Musgrove gets the ball for the San Diego Padres, and he is 3-4 with a 5.66 ERA and 44 strikeouts this season. Musgrove has allowed 13 hits and 4 earned runs in his last 14.1 innings. Musgrove has a 6.94 ERA and .362 allowed batting average in 11.2 road innings. Musgrove is 0-0 with a 6.52 ERA and 6 strikeouts in his career against the Kansas City Royals.
Alec Marsh gets the ball for the Kansas City Royals, and he is 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA and 43 strikeouts this season. Marsh has allowed 19 hits and 10 earned runs in his last 23.1 innings. Marsh has a 2.61 ERA and .231 allowed batting average in 20.2 home innings. This will be Marsh’s first career game against the San Diego Padres.
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The Royals have won five of their last six games as underdogs against NL West opponents following a home loss.
- The Padres have lost three of their last four games as favorites against the Royals following a win.
- The Padres have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 16 day games against AL Central opponents.
- The Royals have covered the run line in each of their last six games as underdogs against NL West opponents following a home loss.
- The Royals have led after 3 innings in each of their last five home day games.
- The Royals have led after 5 innings in each of their last five home day games.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in three of his last six appearances in day games against NL teams that held a winning record.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded a Double in four of the Royals’ last five home games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one RBI in 10 of the Royals’ last 11 games as home underdogs against NL opponents.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has scored at least one run in eight of the Royals’ last nine home games.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Royals’ last six games as home underdogs against NL opponents.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one Single in each of the Royals’ last seven games as underdogs.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one hit in each of his 12 previous appearances with the Royals as underdogs against NL West opponents.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranks T5th in the league in Steals (16) this season.
San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts
- Jurickson Profar has hit a home run in two of his three previous appearances in day games against AL Central teams that held a winning record.
- Jake Cronenworth has recorded a Double in three of his last four road appearances against AL opponents.
- Joe Musgrove has recorded a win in six of his last seven appearances with the Padres as favorites against AL opponents.
- Manny Machado has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four appearances against the Royals.
- Luis Arraez has recorded two or more hits in each of the Padres’ last nine road games.
- Jake Cronenworth has scored at least one run in nine of his last 10 appearances in day games against teams that held a winning record.
- Luis Arraez has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Padres’ last nine road games.
- Joe Musgrove has recorded five or more strikeouts in seven of his last eight appearances in day games.
- Luis Arraez has recorded at least one Single in each of the Padres’ last 10 road games.
- Luis Arraez ranks 1st amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.342) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Kansas City Royals rank T1st in the league for home runs allowed this season (46).
- The Kansas City Royals rank 3rd in the league for doubles this season (106).
- The San Diego Padres rank 1st in the league for hits this season (526).
- The San Diego Padres rank 2nd in the league for batting average this season (.259).
Kansas City Royals vs San Diego Padres Prediction
Right when you’re ready to believe in the San Diego Padres, they let you down, so excuse me if I’m not on board. Joe Musgrove hasn’t been good this season, with an ERA well over 5 and a 1.48 WHIP. The Kansas City Royals are winning, and they’d have even more wins if the bullpen got its act together. Alec Marsh has been an above average pitcher this season, and he’s even better at home with a 2.61 ERA. The Royals at home and the cheap price has to be one of the stronger players on Saturday. Give me the Royals.