Kansas City Royals (41-32) vs. Oakland Athletics (26-48)
June 18, 2024 9:40 pm EDT
The Line: Oakland Athletics +115 / Kansas City Royals -135; Over/Under: +8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
In this article we will formulate an Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals prediction for this MLB game on Tuesday, June 18th at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. Let’s take a look at the prediction for game one in the series.
Athletics Need to Find a Win
The Oakland Athletics are 26-48 this year and they have lost nine games in a row. Oakland is coming off of a series loss against the Twins, where they lost all four games by scores of 6-2, 6-5, 6-2, and 8-7. Prior to that series, the Athletics were swept by the Padres in three games, lost two out of three games against the Blue Jays, and lost two out of three against the Mariners. Oakland is just 3-15 in their last 18 games and they are last in the AL West, 17 games behind the Mariners.
The Oakland pitching staff has a 4.36 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and a .256 opponent batting average. The Athletics offense has scored 266 runs with a .220 batting average and a .291 on base percentage. Brent Rooker is batting .253 with 13 home runs and 41 RBI’s for the Athletics this season. Oakland is 23rd in team ERA this season and they have allowed at least six runs in seven of their last nine games.
Royals Need a Series Win
The Kansas City Royals are 41-32 this season and they have lost six of their last eight games. Kansas City is coming off of a series loss against the Dodgers, where they lost two out of three games and were shutout in game three. Prior to that series, the Royals lost three out of four against the Yankees, won two out of three against the Mariners, and split two games with the Guardians. Kansas City has only won one of their last six series, but they are second in the AL Central behind Cleveland.
The Kansas City pitching staff has a 3.79 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and a .241 opponent batting average. The Royals offense has scored 351 runs with a .250 batting average and a .313 on base percentage. Bobby Witt is batting .327 with 11 home runs and 51 RBI’s for the Royals this season. Kansas City is fifth in the MLB in runs scored this year, but they have scored three runs or fewer in four of their last seven games.
Starting Pitchers
The projected starting pitcher for Oakland is Hogan Harris, who is 0-0 with a 2.49 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 25.1 innings pitched this season. Harris has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three straight starts and has allowed a total of three earned runs in those three outings. The projected starting pitcher for Kansas City is Alec Marsh, who is 5-3 with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP over 67.0 innings pitched this year. Marsh has allowed at least four earned runs in three of his last four starts, but went seven scoreless innings against the Yankees last time out.
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
The Athletics have lost each of their last 11 night games against AL Central opponents.
The favorites have won each of the Athletics’ last nine games.
The Royals have covered the run line in 11 of their last 12 night games against American League opponents following a road loss.
The Athletics have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 11 night games against AL Central opponents.
The Royals have won the first inning in each of their last three games against the Athletics.
The Royals have led after 5 innings in each of their last four games against the Athletics.
Total Runs Facts
Seven of the Athletics’ last eight home games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
Each of the Royals’ last four games against AL West opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last six games against AL West opponents.
The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Athletics’ last three games as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals Prediction
Kansas City comes into this series nine games above .500, but they have not played their best over the last few weeks. The Royals are in danger of dropping to third in the AL Central and they are just 16-18 on the road. Oakland is 22 games below .500 and they are 15-20 at home. The Athletics are on a nine game losing streak and their pitching has been atrocious. Oakland is going with Hogan Harris, who has been very solid in his last three starts. KC is going with Marsh, who has been up and down this season, but it has been more good than bad. I know Marsh has struggled in three of his last four outings, but there is no way I am taking Oakland here. My Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals prediction is for the Royals to win by at least two runs.
