Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Angels odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Angels odds and lines, with MLB expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The Kansas City Royals (22-16) kick off a 7-game road trip with the 1st game of 4-game series against the Los Angeles Angels (14-23). First pitch from Angel Stadium is at 9:38 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Angels odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; Angels won series 4-2 in 2023

The Royals have won 5 of their last 8 games overall and finished their 6-game homestand 3-3, taking 2 of 3 games from the Milwaukee Brewers. They won the finale on Wednesday 6-4.

The Angels return home after going 3-3 on their 6-game road trip. They took 2 out of 3 from the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning the final 2 games of the series, including a 5-4 win Wednesday.

Royals at Angels projected starters

RHP Michael Wacha vs. LHP Reid Detmers

Wacha (1-4, 5.50 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 1.46 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 7.4 K/9 in 37 2/3 IP.

  • Last start: Loss, 3 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 15-4 home loss to Texas Rangers on Saturday
  • Has lost his last 4 decisions
  • Has a 10.61 ERA over his last 2 starts (9 1/3 IP)

Detmers (3-3, 4.24 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 1.22 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 9.8 K/9 in 40 1/3 IP.

  • Last start: Loss, 5 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 7 K in 7-1 road loss to Cleveland Guardians on Saturday
  • Is 0-3 with 8.15 ERA in last 3 starts

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Royals at Angels odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:38 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Royals -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Angels +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals -1.5 (+140) | Angels +1.5 (-165)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Royals at Angels picks and predictions

Prediction

Royals 6, Angels 4

Moneyline

The Angels are only 4-11 at home this season.

Neither starter has been good recently (Wacha has allowed 11 ER in last 2 starts while Detmers has allowed 12).

The Royals have won 5 of their last 7 series openers. Betting them on the moneyline is fine but you have better value on the run line.

PASS. 

Run line/Against the spread

Seven of the Angels’ last 8 losses have been by 2 or more runs while 5 of the Royals’ last 6 wins and 16 of their 22 total wins have been by multiple runs.

BET ROYALS -1.5 (+140).

Over/Under

Four of their 6 meetings last season and 8 of their last 10 have not reach 8 total runs. But both starters have given up a lot of runs in recent starts.

The Royals’ last 2 games and 3 of the last 5 have had more than 8 total runs.

The Angels’ last 2 games and 10 of the last 14 have had at least 8 runs.

BET OVER 8.5 (-105).

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