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The Kansas City Royals (41-32) and Oakland A’s (26-48) meet Tuesday as they swing into a 3-game series. First pitch from Oakland Coliseum is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. A’s odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Kansas City leads 3-0
The Royals are continuing a West Coast road trip that opened with the club losing 2 of 3 at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kansas City outscored Oakland 18-9 in sweeping 3 games from the A’s May 17-19.
The A’s head into Tuesday’s game looking to snap a 9-game losing streak. Oakland owns a whiff-heavy .621 OPS over those 9 losses.
Royals at A’s projected starters
RHP Alec Marsh vs. LHP Hogan Harris
Marsh (5-3, 3.63 ERA) is making his 13th start. He has a 1.09 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 in 67 IP.
- Last outing: No-decision, 7 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 4-3 home win vs. New York Yankees Thursday
- Career vs. A’s: 0-0, 4.76 ERA (5 2/3 IP, 3 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 9 K in 1 relief appearance of 6-4 road loss Aug. 21, 2023
- Has benefited from .254 batting average on balls in play
Harris (0-0, 2.49 ERA) is lined up for his 4th start and 6th appearance. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 in 25 1/3 IP.
- Last outing: No-decision, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 K in 5-4 loss at San Diego Padres Wednesday
- Career vs. Royals: 1-0, 9.82 ERA (3 2/3 IP, 4 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K in 1 relief appearance of 5-4 home victory Aug. 22, 2023
- Has allowed 4 home runs in 16 2/3 IP as starter
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Royals at A’s odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 7:17 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Royals -134 (bet $134 to win $100) | A’s +114 (bet $100 to win $114)
- Against the spread (ATS): Royals -1.5 (+128) | A’s +1.5 (-154)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -122 | U: +100)
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Royals at A’s picks and predictions
Prediction
Royals 6, A’s 4
Moneyline
The A’s are a would-be lean in a vacuum, but the Royals have enough of a mound edge here as to wipe out that potential underdog play. Harris has not shown the minor-league chops to be able to handle this starter’s role.
K.C. was dominant in last month’s series. Tab the ROYALS (-134) as just a slight lean, and consider going in on a partial-unit basis only.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS: Look to the Over for the best leverage in this matchup.
Over/Under
Both starting pitchers have been allowing frequent barrel contact. Kansas City sports a respectable offense this season, and Oakland’s bats figure to produce more than what shows in the ball club’s surface line. The A’s have been undone by a .280 BABIP in high-leverage situations and a .273 BABIP when leading off an inning. Normalize the traffic on the bags, and more runs cross the plate.
The concept of a compartmentalized strength of schedule is one that aids in the discovery of some value on the Oakland offense. The A’s have faced an allotment of opposing pitchers significantly more difficult than average.
The weather report calls for a double-digit breeze blowing out. BACK THE OVER 7.5 (-122).
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