Kansas City at Texas MLB Betting Prediction, Pick & TV Info

The Kansas City Royals aren’t hitting much but they are pitching great. The Texas Rangers are hitting plenty but their bullpen has been terrible. The two teams face off on Thursday night in Arlington in a four-game series opener – the Royals’ only visit of the season. They could be slight MLB betting favorites.

Kansas City at Texas MLB Betting Prediction, Pick & TV Info

RECAP: Merrifield homers in first game back with club, #Royals fall to Giants in extras: https://t.co/NfldbDGxcA pic.twitter.com/bgkmzMX6wv

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 19, 2017

When: Thursday, April 20, 8:05 PM ET Where: Globe Life Park, Arlington Probable pitchers (away/home): Danny Duffy/Andrew Cashner TV: MLB Network Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet On Royals?

Royals manager Ned Yost said outfielder Jorge Soler (oblique) could head out on a minor league rehab assignment this weekend. Soler suffered a minor setback last weekend while taking swings in a batting cage, but he’s already back to working out and still has a chance of making his Royals debut before the end of April. Soler landed on the disabled list before Opening Day with a strained left oblique muscle. Paulo Orlando has been serving as Kansas City’s primary right fielder. Yost could soon make a change in his current lineup after the team recalled Whit Merrifield from Triple-A Omaha. The 28-year- old was off to a great start in Triple-A this year and could soon begin to take away at-bats from the struggling Raul Mondesi at second base. Merrifield also can play outfield. Kansas City goes with lefty Danny Duffy on the mound. Duffy spun seven innings of one-run ball in Friday’s 7-1 victory over the Angels. Duffy gave up an RBI single to Mike Trout in the first inning, but he managed to keep the Angels off the board the rest of the way. The southpaw gave up just three hits in all while walking two batters and striking out six. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his first three starts, resulting in a 1.80 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. There was talk of Duffy’s velocity being down this spring, but it’s had no impact on his 2017 performance thus far. “He’s our ace,” third baseman Mike Moustakas said. “What he did last year, he’s definitely capable of being in that Cy Young conversation. He goes out there and does what he’s capable of doing, it’s going to be an awesome thing to watch.”

Why Bet On Texas?

The Rangers have had the worst bullpen in the majors this season but have done something about it. The team placed closer Sam Dyson on the 10-day disabled list with a right hand contusion. He may or may not be injured, as the Rangers could just be looking for a way to get him off the roster for a while given his 27.00 ERA and three blown saves. Rangers manager Jeff Banister said this week that Matt Bush will get the first chance to close with Dyson out. Banister did note that Bush wouldn’t get every save opportunity, so Jeremy Jeffress also figures to be in the mix. The Rangers will need to be careful with Bush after his recent shoulder issues, so he won’t be overworked. “We have been challenged getting the 27th out,” Banister said. “We have to find somebody who has the best opportunity of doing it. Early on, we’re going to ask guys in the bullpen to get outs when we ask them to get outs. Don’t get caught up in the inning and the situation. We’re going to give Matt the opportunity early to get the 27th out, but we don’t want to run somebody out there three days in a row.” Texas goes with Andrew Cashner here. Cashner came off the DL on Saturday and allowed four runs (three earned) over 5 1/3 innings. Cashner’s willingness to pitch inside had to make Banister very happy. Banister has been preaching it to his pitchers for more than two years. Cashner had no fear of doing it in his first start and got a key double play by coming in against Danny Valencia in the second inning. Cashner went to the sixth inning with just 69 pitches, an average of 13.8 per inning. He also worked quickly on the mound. Cashner will be making his first career start at Globe Life Park. He is 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA in two career starts against the Royals.

Kansas City at Texas MLB Betting Pick: Kansas City Royals

Duffy is one of the AL’s best pitchers. Disregard Cashner’s numbers vs. K.C.