Royals vs Red Sox Prediction - MLB Picks 8/8/23

Boston Red Sox (57-54) vs Kansas City Royals (36-77)

Game Info: Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 7:10 pm (Fenway Park)

Kutter Crawford (5-5) (3.62) vs Brady Singer (7-8) (5.10)

Betting Odds: Boston Red Sox -238 / Kansas City Royals +180 --- Over/Under: 10.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The Boston Red Sox will host the Kansas City Royals for game two of their three-game set this Tuesday from Fenway Park. Boston took game one in walkoff fashion, 6-2.

Royals Preview & Projected Starter

Kansas City comes in at 36-78 after losing to Boston. The Royals have been cooled off on this road trip, and they’ll look to avoid a fourth straight defeat here Tuesday. Kansas City offense is scoring 3.62 runs per game, while batting .233, with a .293 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 5.25 ERA, with a 1.43 WHIP.

Brady Singer (7-8, 5.10 ERA, 84 Ks) will take the mound for Kansas City. The fourth-year righty came through with a strong outing against the Mets last week, tossing eight scoreless frames en route to his seventh win of the season. Singer had a good month of action that included home wins over the Dodgers and Rays, but this spot at Fenway could give him some trouble, as he has dropped three of last four starts away from Kauffman.

Royals Player Trends & Props

• Bobby Witt Jr. has produced a hit in eight of the last nine games, and he leads KC in hits (121), homers (20) and RBI (68).

• Maikel Garcia brings an eleven-game hit streak into this matchup, and he leads the Royals in batting (.279), with 38 RBI.

• Salvador Perez has recorded a hit in seven of the previous ten games, and he’s second on the team with 17 homers and 45 RBI.

• MJ Melendez collected three hits in the game one loss, and he’s tallied 38 RBI for the season.

Red Sox Preview & Projected Starter

Boston moved to 58-54 after defeating Kansas City. The Red Sox snapped a four-game skid with the walkoff victory, and they’ll look to build a stretch of wins here to remain within reach in the AL Wild Card race. The Boston offense is 4.18 scoring runs per game, while batting .264, with a .331 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.89 ERA, with a 1.34 WHIP.

Kutter Crawford (5-5, 3.62 ERA, 81 Ks) will open the game for Boston. The third-year pitcher held firm in Seattle last week, holding the Mariners scoreless over five innings pitched. Crawford has looked good in three of four starts three post-All Star break, allowing one run combined thru those outings, and he’ll look to keep the feisty Royals calm here at home Tuesday.

Red Sox Player Trends & Props

• Rafael Devers has totaled multiple bases in three straight games, and he’s first on the team in HR (26) and RBI (79).

• Justin Turner has recorded a hit in eight of his last ten games, and he’s posting strong splits of .284/17/71, with 112 hits.

• Masataka Yoshida brings a six-game hit streak into this contest, and he leads the Sox in hits (108), with splits of .306/12/54.

• Jarren Duran is hitless through his last three games, but he still leads Boston in batting with a lucky .307, and 41 runs batted in.

Corey’s Free Pick

Boston used late-game heroics to take Monday’s contest, and while Brady Singer may make things tough for them again in game two, I still believe in them capitalizing on the matchup. The Red Sox hold the superior lineup, and they’ll have the Fenway crowd on their side. Kansas City’s recent steam & Singer’s presence puts some value on the run line, so let’s trust a strong from Boston at home, and back then for game two.