Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox odds and lines, with MLB expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Kansas City Royals (37-79) take on the Boston Red Sox (59-55) in the finale of a 4-game series. First pitch from Fenway Park is at 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Red Sox odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Red Sox lead 2-1

The Royals lost 4-3 Wednesday and 6-2 Monday, although they avoided a potential sweep situation with a 9-3 victory Tuesday. Kansas City has lost 4 of its last 5 games, although it took a 7-game win streak into Saturday’s game.

The Red Sox have won 2 of 3 games so far this series but have only 3 wins in their last 11 games. Boston is 5 games out of the final AL Wild Card berth and 11 games out of the AL East lead.

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Royals at Red Sox projected starters

LHP Auston Cox vs. LHP James Paxton

Cox (0.1, 3.58 ERA) makes his 3rd start and 16th appearance. He has a 1.16 WHIP, 4.6 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9 through 27 2/3 IP.

  • As a starter: 0-1 with 7.56 across 8 1/3 IP over 2 starts
  • Has not allowed a run in 3 of his last 4 appearances (4 1/3 IP)
  • Last start: No decision, 4 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 8-4 road loss vs. Minnesota Twins on July 3

Paxton (6-3, 3.60 ERA) makes his 15th start. He has a 1.15 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9 through 75 IP.

  • Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 7-3 home loss to Toronto Blue Jays Friday
  • The Red Sox are 6-8 when he starts and have lost 3 of his last 4 outings

Royals at Red Sox odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:52 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Royals +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Red Sox -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals +2.5 (-140) | Red Sox -2.5 (+115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 10.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Royals at Red Sox picks and predictions

Prediction

Red Sox 5, Royals 3

Moneyline

There is no real reason to consider a wager on the Red Sox (-250) due to the steep risk vs. reward.

The Royals (+190) are 16-43 on the road this season and 3-9 in their last 12 road contests, so betting them to win outright would be to buck season-long trends.

PASS.

Run line/Against the spread

The Royals are 46-70 ATS overall this season, the 2nd-worst mark in all of baseball. The Red Sox are 58-56 ATS.

However, only 3 of Boston’s last 8 wins have been by at least 3 runs.

BET ROYALS +2.5 (-140).

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Over/Under

Five of the Royals’ last 7 games have had 11 or more runs.

Only 2 of the last 15 for the Red Sox have reached 11 total runs.

BET UNDER 10.5 (-110).

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