The Kansas City Royals (12-30) open a 3-game interleague series with the San Diego Padres (19-22) Monday at Petco Park. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Padres odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Padres won the season series 2-1 in 2022
The Royals were swept in Milwaukee against the Brewers in a 3-game interleague series over the weekend. Kansas City is still a respectable 4-4 across its last 8 games overall but has won just 1 of the last 10 interleague games.
The Padres were also swept over the weekend, falling in 3 games at the Los Angeles Dodgers. San Diego has dropped 5 games in a row and 7 of its last 8 contests. The Padres are 1-2 in 3 interleague games this season.
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Royals at Padres projected starters
RHP Brad Keller vs. RHP Michael Wacha
Keller (3-3, 4.31 ERA) makes his 9th start. He has a 1.77 WHIP, 7.3 BB/9 and 6.6 K/9 in 39 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 4 K in a 9-1 home win vs. the Chicago White Sox Wednesday
- Road splits this season: 2-0, 2.91 ERA (21 2/3 IP, 7 ER), .213 OBA in 4 starts
Wacha (3-1, 4.82 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 1.34 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9, 7.2 K/9 in 37 1/3 IP innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K in a 6-1 road win vs. the Twins last Tuesday
- Home splits this season: 1-1, 6.10 ERA (16 1/3 IP, 11 ER), .288 OBA in 3 starts
Royals at Padres odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:06 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Royals +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Padres -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals +1.5 (-115) | Padres -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Royals at Padres picks and predictions
Prediction
Royals 5, Padres 3
Moneyline
The ROYALS (+165) are worth a roll of the dice in this interleague series opener.
Keller has been pretty respectable overall and has strong splits on the road. While Kansas City has won just 12 times in 42 games, Keller has been on the bump for 3 of those victories.
The Padres have dropped 5 in a row and have managed just 10 total runs during the skid. San Diego has averaged just 2.4 runs per game across its previous 8 contests.
Run line/Against the spread
The ROYALS +1.5 (-115) are a strong value on the run line as underdogs if you require insurance and just can’t bring yourself to play the lowly AL club straight up.
Kansas City is 5-3 in the past 8 games as an underdog on the run line, including 4 straight-up victories.
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Over/Under
The UNDER 9 (-110) is the lean, ever so slightly.
The Under is 4-1 in the past 5 games overall for the Royals while cashing at a 6-1 clip in their past 7 interleague games and in their last 4 vs. AL West foes.
The Under has cashed in 5 straight home games for the Padres while going 7-0-1 in the past 8 interleague games. The Under is 16-5-1 in their last 22 games against right-handed starting pitchers and has chased at a 7-3 clip in the past 10 series openers.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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