Kansas City at Houston MLB Odds Analysis

Posted by Eric Williams on Monday,April 11, 2016 1:20, EDT in

NHL News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

The red-hot Kansas City Royals will look to win their fourth straight game when they visit a Houston Astros ballclub looking to snap out of their recent funk and bounce back from a humbling loss against Milwaukee on Sunday night. Now, let’s find out if the young Astros can hold it down at home against the reigning World Series champions. Find out the latest MLB betting odds here.

Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros MLB Odds Analysis

When: Tuesday, April 12 – 8:10 PM EST
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Line: N/A TOTAL: N/A
TV: MLBN, FSKC, ROOT Sports Southwest, MLBN
Live Stream: NHL Live

Probable Starters
Kansas City – Kris Medlen – R
Mike Fiers – R

Why Bet the Kansas City Royals

The Royals are a great bet in this contest because they’ve scored four runs of more in every game except one this season. Just like I predicted before the start of the 2016 regular season, the Kansas City Royals apparently have a chip the size of Mount Rushmore on their collective shoulders after getting disrespected by the national media – again – despite winning it all last season.

The Royals will hand the ball to veteran right-hander Kris Medlen, the team’s fifth starter, in his 2016 debut. Medlen was skipped the first time through the Royals’ rotation because of the team’s built-in three off days the first week. Medlen was just so-so in going 1-1 with a 5.94 ERA this spring but the Royals are 4-1 in their last five games against a right-handed starter and 9-4 in their last 13 road games.

Why Bet the Houston Astros

The Astros are a good bet because they’re playing at home. Houston has lost four of its last five games and got completely humbled in their 3-2 loss against Milwaukee on Sunday night. Now Houston will look to bounce back against K.C., but let it be known that veteran starter Mike Fiers got beaten like a rag doll in his debut last week.

Fiers (0-0, 9.00 ERA) got smacked around by the Brewers for five runs on nine hits, including two homers in five innings. Fiers also gave up one run in the only inning he pitched against the Royals in the ALDS last year. The good news for Houston coming into this contest is that the Astros have gone 30-12 in their last 42 home games against a right-handed starter and an impressive 46-20 in their last 66 home games.

Expert Prediction and Pick

While none of Kansas City’s starting position players is really hitting the ball well right now, the Royals are a great ‘timely hitting’ kind of ballclub. Mike Moustakas is batting just .250 but has smacked two home runs and driven in three runs while Kendrys Morales is batting just .176 but has driven in three runs while hitting one homer.

Houston is struggling mightily to stop the opposition from scoring as they’ve given up a whopping six runs or more in three of their four losses so far. It doesn’t bode well that Houston has gone 18-39 in their last 57 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600 and a winless 0-4 in Mike Fiers’ last four starts.

Conversely, the Royals have compiled a bankroll-boosting 20-6 mark in their last 26 games overall while also going 36-16 in their last 52 games against teams from the AL West and a perfect 4-0 in Kris Medlen’s last four road starts. Kansas City may be 1-4 in the last five road games against Houston, but K.C. is 5-2 in the last seven meetings overall, making them my pick to win and cash in!