Royals vs Astros Prediction, Pick and Preview, August 23: MLB

Royals vs Astros Prediction, Pick and Preview, August 23: MLB

Odds
Time 8:10 p.m. EST
Royals money line +208
Royals run line +1.5 (+106)
Astros money line -233
Astros run line -1.5 (-128)
Over / under

 

Key stats
  Royals Astros
Record 55-68 73-51
Road / home record 23-37 39-24
Last 10 record 6-4 5-5
Streak W3 L1
Over / under record 52-62-9 68-52-4
Runs / game 4.13 5.42
Runs allowed / game 4.90 3.94

 

Preview

The Royals will travel to Houston to take on the Astros in a three-game series. These teams played a four-game series in Kansas City last week and Hoston won three of the four games but all four games were determined by three runs or less. 

The Royals have been doing well offensively as of late as in their last seven games, they are averaging five runs per game with a .781 OPS in that stretch.

The Astros have been clicking offensively as they are scoring 6.43 runs per game during their last seven games. They are posting an .880 OPS in these last seven games and have hit for power with 10 homers during it. 

Pitching matchup

Royals

Daniel Lynch (3-3, 5.12 ERA) will be pitching here for the Royals. He is coming off a victory over these same Houston Astros as he went seven innings and allowed a run on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Hitters went 4-of-22 (.182) against him in that start and a .553 OPS so having a little bit of a scouting report against this lineup is going to be beneficial for him. Lynch has pitched well since the All-Star break as he is 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA in five starts. 

Astros

Zack Greinke (11-3, 3.43 ERA) takes the mound for the Astros here. He's coming off a no-decision against these same Kansas City Royals where he went six innings and gave up a run on five hits with no walks or strikeouts. Greinke has been struggling a bit in Minute Maid Park this year as he is 5-3 with a 4.58 ERA in 13 starts. Kansas City went 5-for-22 (.227) against Greinke's last start with Nicky Lopez having the best game out of the lineup as he was the only player with multiple hits, a stolen base, and a run scored. 

Prediction

The Houston Astros have been one of the best teams in all of baseball while the Kansas City Royals are playing for 2022. Zack Greinke is a better pitcher at this current state than Daniel Lynch and the offensive numbers heavily lean towards Houston as well. The Royals are way under .500 on the road while the Astros have one of the best home records in MLB. Given the drastic differences between these teams, the run line seems to be the appropriate bet here. 

PICK: Astros run line (-128)

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