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The Kansas City Royals (41-34) and Oakland A’s (28-48) meet Thursday to cap off a 3-game series. First pitch from Oakland Coliseum is slated for 3:37 p.m. ET. 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 3-2
The Royals started their current West Coast road trip by losing 2 of 3 at the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have dropped the 1st 2 games in this series — by a combined 12-6 tally — and are just 2-8 over their last 10 games.
The A’s headed into Tuesday’s series opener on a 9-game losing streak. Oakland has piled up 9 extra-base hits and 9 walks over the 1st 2 games of this series (7-5 and 5-1 wins). A win Thursday would mark the Athletics’ 1st 3-game win streak since April 28-May 4 when the club won 6 straight.
Royals at A’s projected starters
RHP Seth Lugo vs. RHP Mitch Spence
Lugo (10-2, 2.40 ERA) is making his 16th start. He has a 1.05 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 7.3 K/9 in 97 1/3 IP.
- Last outing: Win, 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 7-2 win at Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday
- Career vs. Athletics: 2-0, 5.68 ERA (12 2/3 IP, 8 ER), 14 H, 2 BB, 18 K in 3 appearances (2 starts)
- Owns a 1.83 ERA in 54 IP on the road
Spence (4-3, 3.95 ERA) is making his 7th start. Over 6 previous starts and 11 relief appearances, he has a 1.21 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 6.8 K/9 in 57 IP.
- Last outing: No-decision, 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 6-5 loss at Minnesota Twins Friday
- Career vs. Royals: 0-1, 1.93 ERA (4 2/3 IP, 1 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 1 start
- Has clocked a 3.69 ERA over his 6 starts
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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 at 9:39 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Royals -154 (bet $154 to win $100) | A’s +130 (bet $100 to win $130)
- Against the spread (ATS): Royals -1.5 (-108) | A’s +1.5 (-128)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Royals at A’s picks and predictions
Prediction
A’s 5, Royals 4
Moneyline
Kansas City has been struggling on its road trip and is just 1-5 over its last 6 games at Oakland. The Royals offense has been woeful away from Kauffman Stadium (.649 OPS with a high strikeout rate), and Lugo figures to be too far out over his skis with his surface numbers. He has benefited from some generous rates around the margins, and per ESPN current Oakland batters own an .857 OPS against him.
The A’s offense figures to have more in the tank and is likely being undervalued by bettors who see the 3.66 runs per game and .671 OPS. In part, Oakland has been undone by a .277 batting average on balls in play (.267 BABIP with runners in scoring position).
K.C. is 1-4 across its last 5 road getaway games, and OAKLAND (+130) is the leverage play in Thursday’s series finale.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS: The better value on Oakland can be found on the ML.
Over/Under
Lugo, the Oakland offense, and Oakland bullpen sectors push this one into a lean toward a higher score. The A’s bullpen prognosis is one derived with expected vs. actual numbers; its overall 3.47 ERA is suspect.
An outward breeze is expected during game hours, and Oakland Coliseum typically plays as a higher scoring venue for day games.
The weather report calls for a double-digit breeze blowing out. BACK THE OVER 7.5 (-115).
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