The Kansas City Royals (30-31) and Oakland Athletics (37-27) meet up for the second game of their series Friday at Oakland Coliseum with a 9:40 p.m. ET first pitch. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Royals vs. Athletics odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Brady Singer is the projected starting pitcher for the Royals. He is 3-5 with a 4.88 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 59 IP over 12 starts.
Singer’s ERA has jumped nearly a run from last year’s mark, but his skills haven’t changed much and he’s even striking out more batters. The 24-year-old has whiffed six or more batters in four of his last five starts but has put up a 5.91 ERA in his five road outings this year.
LHP Cole Irvin is the projected starting pitcher for the Athletics. He is 4-7 with a 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 in 69 1/3 IP over 12 starts.
Irvin has made seven starts at home, where he has recorded a 4.73 ERA and 5.9 K/9. He shut down the Rockies in Colorado last time out, but in his previous four starts had just 8 K across 22 1/3 IP.
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Royals at Athletics odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:02 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Royals +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Athletics -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Royals +1.5 (-160) | Athletics -1.5 (+135)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Prediction
Royals 5, Athletics 4
Money line (ML)
Singer has been pretty unlucky this season, as he has been hurt by a .345 BABIP and 64.1% LOB%. On the other side, most ERA estimators don’t support Irvin’s sub-4.00 ERA, and he has really struggled to put batters away in his last handful of starts.
The Royals have held their own on the road this season with a 14-16 record. This game looks like a toss-up, so take the favorable odds with the ROYALS (+125).
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Of Oakland’s last 13 losses, five have been by just a single run. This sets up to be a close game throughout, and there doesn’t appear to be enough value on either side of the run line. PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Royals have been a much better offense at home than on the road this year (4.90 runs per game to 3.73). Meanwhile, the Oakland offense has been a lot better on the road than at home (4.93 to 3.84).
Even so, this line is a little too low for a matchup between these two starting pitchers. Neither offense is likely to have a huge day, but both should do their part in helping push this total OVER 8.5 (-105).
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