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The Kansas City Royals (40-30) and Los Angeles Dodgers (42-28) open a 3-game set at Dodger Stadium Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET (MLB.TV Free Game of the Day). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Dodgers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Royals won 2-1 last season
The Royals avoided a 4-game home sweep against the New York Yankees with a 4-3 win as +146 underdogs Thursday with the Under (10.5) hitting. Royals 3B Maikel Garcia ended the game with a 2-RBI double for Kansas City, which is just 1-4 over its last 5 games.
The Dodgers dropped 2 of 3 at home against the Texas Rangers Tuesday through Thursday. L.A. lost 3-1 as -178 favorites in the series finale as the Under (8.5) cashed.
Royals at Dodgers projected starters
LHP Cole Ragans vs. RHP Gavin Stone
Ragans (4-4, 3.08 ERA) makes his 15th start. He has a 1.15 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 11.2 K/9 in 79 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 9 K in 6-5 home loss in 10 innings vs. Seattle Mariners Sunday
- 2024 road stats: 1-2, 2.97 ERA (30 1/3 IP, 10 ER), 1.12 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 in 5 starts
- Has never faced Dodgers before
Stone (7-2, 2.93 ERA) makes his 13th start. The rookie has a 1.24 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 7.0 K/9 in 67 2/3 IP.
- Last start: Win, 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 6 K in 11-3 victory at Yankees Saturday
- 2024 home stats: 3-1, 3.00 ERA (39 IP, 13 ER), 1.28 WHIP, 7.2 K/9 in 7 starts
- Has never faced Royals before
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Royals at Dodgers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:34 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Royals +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Dodgers -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals +1.5 (-150) | Dodgers -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Royals at Dodgers picks and predictions
Prediction
Dodgers 6, Royals 3
Moneyline
The Dodgers (-165), who are 22-13 at home this season, should bounce back after losing 2 straight, but I’d rather play them on the run line.
PASS. Bet the run line and/or total instead.
Run line/Against the spread
The Dodgers are 15-12 on the run line after a loss, and Kansas City may be in a let-down spot after Thursday’s walk-off win against the Yankees.
Stone has won his last 3 starts and allowed a total of just 2 runs over that span.
BET DODGERS -1.5 (+125).
Over/Under
The Over is 19-14-1 (57.6%) when L.A. is favored at Dodger Stadium, and it scores the 5th-most runs per game in MLB when it’s at home (4.94).
Stone has been impressive over his last 3 starts, but it’s hard to bet the Under when the Dodgers are at home coming off back-to-back losses.
BET OVER 8 (-115).
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