In this article we will formulate a Royals vs Nationals prediction for this MLB game on Tuesday, August 12th at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Kansas City Royals Betting Preview
The Kansas City Royals are 59-60 this season after they won game one by a score of 7-4 on Monday night. Kansas City trailed 4-2 in the fifth inning, but they scored the last five runs to pull away with the win. The Royals recorded 10 hits in the game and they were led by Perez and Isbel, who both had two RBIs in the win. KC started Falter, who allowed three hits and two earned runs over 4.0 innings, while Lynch picked up the win and Estevez got the save.
Prior to this series, the Royals lost two out of three against the Twins and two out of three against the Red Sox. Kansas City has alternated wins and losses over their last six games and they are currently third in the AL Central standings. The Kansas City pitching staff has a 3.62 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and a .237 opponent batting average, while the offense has scored 441 runs with a .244 batting average and a .303 on base percentage this season. Vinnie Pasquantino has led KC with 20 home runs and 71 RBIs, while Salvador Perez has added 21 home runs and 68 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Kansas City is Michael Wacha, who is 6-9 with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP over 131.1 innings pitched this season.
Washington Nationals Betting Preview
The Washington Nationals are 47-71 this year after they dropped game one in this series on Monday night. Washington led 2-0 in the first and 4-2 in the fifth, but went scoreless over the last four innings in the loss. The Nationals recorded nine hits in the game and they were led by DeJong and Bell, who both had two RBIs in the loss. Washington started Cavalli, who allowed seven hits and four earned runs over 5.0 innings, while Rutledge allowed two earned runs in relief and picked up the loss.
Prior to this series, the Nationals won two out of three against the Giants, but lost two out of three against the Athletics before that. Washington has lost nine of their last twelve games and they are currently last in the NL East standings. The Washington pitching staff has a 5.31 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP and a .271 opponent batting average, while the offense has scored 502 runs with a .244 batting average and a .309 on base percentage this season. James Wood has led Washington with 25 home runs and 77 RBIs, while Nathaniel Lowe has added 15 home runs and 64 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Washington is Mitchell Parker, who is 7-12 with a 5.43 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP over 122.2 innings pitched this year.
Why the Royals will beat the Nationals
- The Royals have won each of their last eight games as home favorites after playing the previous day.
- The Nationals have lost each of their last seven Tuesday road games.
- The Nationals have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six games against American League opponents.
- The favorites have covered the run line in four of the Royals’ last five games at Kauffman Stadium.
- The Nationals have trailed after 5 innings in six of their last eight road night games.
- The Royals have led after 3 innings in six of their last eight games as home favorites against National League opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Royals’ last five night games against NL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Five of the Nationals’ last six night games against AL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Nationals’ last seven Tuesday night games against AL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last four night games at Kauffman Stadium.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Salvador Perez has hit a home run in three of the Royals’ last five games as favorites against NL East opponents.
- Michael Wacha has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last eight home appearances.
- Adam Frazier has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight appearances in night games against NL teams that held a losing record.
- Michael Wacha has recorded a win in four of his last five appearances with his team as a home favorite against NL East opponents .
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- Josh Bell has recorded at least one hit in 13 of his last 14 road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Paul DeJong has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances in night games against AL Central teams that held a losing record.
Royals vs Nationals Prediction
Kansas City was able to stick with their trend of alternating wins and losses on Monday night, but that would mean they are due for a loss here. The Royals are 29-28 at home this year, while the Nationals are 25-35 on the road. Washington has one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball and they are starting Parker, who has allowed 4, 8, 2, 2, and 7 earned runs in his last five starts. The Royals are going with Wacha, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five straight outings. Take Kansas City by at least two runs here.