Royals vs Astros Prediction, Pick and Preview, August 25 (8/25): MLB

Royals vs Astros Prediction, Pick and Preview, August 25 (8/25): MLB

Credit: photo by Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

 
Odds
Time 2:10 p.m. EST
Royals money line +210
Royals run line +1.5 (+108)
Astros money line -256
Astros run line -1.5 (-130)
Over / under 8.5 (-110)

 

Key stats
  Royals Astros
Record 56-69 74-52
Road / home record 24-38 40-25
Last 10 record 7-3 4-6
Streak L1 W1
Over / under record 53-63-9 68-55-3
Runs / game 4.15 5.38
Runs allowed / game 4.87 3.96

Preview

The Kansas City Royals are at the Houston Astros for the last game of the three game series Wednesday afternoon.  The Royals took the first game 7-1 before dropping last night's game 4-0.  The Royals have won 4 of 5 and 7 of 9.  The Astros had dropped 2 straight before winning last night's game.  They've won 4 of 6 but only 4 of their last 10.

Royals bats came into the series hot, and they've now averaged 5.2 runs per game over their last 5, albeit they only got 4 hits last night and were shutout.

The Astros bats have also been hot, despite a two game stint where they only scored 4 runs combined.  They've averaged 6.8 runs per game over their last 6 games.

Pitching matchup

Royals

Mike Minor (8-11, 5.34 ERA) pitches for the Royals.  He's had an over 5 ERA in 2020 and now 2021.  He's had a middle of the road August.  In his three starts this month, he's gone a combined 16.1 innings, giving up 10 earned runs on 20 hits and 3 walks, striking out 18.  He pitched against the Astros last week, going 5.1 innings, with 3 earned runs on 7 hits with no walks and 4 strikeouts.  Astros batters have seen Minor plenty of times, going 38 for 121 (.314 AVG) against him, with 5 home runs, 10 walks and 28 strikeouts. 

Astros

Lance McCullers Jr. (10-4, 3.21 ERA) takes the mound for the Astros.  The reliable long-time Astro has had three consecutive good seasons with an under 4 ERA.  His August has been pretty good as well, going a combined 23.0 innings in 4 starts, giving 8 earned runs on 23 hits, 8 walks and striking out 29 batters.  Royals batters have gone 11 for 39 (.282 AVG) against McCullers Jr., with 4 home runs, 4 walks and 11 strikeouts.

Prediction

McCullers Jr. has pitched well in August, with Minor having a >6 ERA in August.  This line is too big for the Astros for us to take, and we actually see value in taking the Royals, who have won 4 of 5 and 7 of 9.  Houston bats have quieted down in the last two games, and we think there's a chance the Royals steal this game and take the series.  We'll take the run line, however, as we think the Royals can keep it close and it's better than even money.

PICK: Royals +1.5 (+108)

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