Kansas City Royals vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction MLB Picks 8/16/24

Royals Trying To Stay In Wild Card Slot

Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with 168 hits including 24 home runs, 89 RBIs and team-highs of 11 triples and 33 doubles with 25 stolen bases and a .349 batting average. Salvador Perez also has 22 home runs with 79 RBIs and 20 doubles. Maikel Garcia has 6 home runs, 48 RBIs and 30 stolen bases along with 5 triples and 21 doubles this season. Vinnie Pasquantino has 26 doubles with 17 homers and 85 RBIs of his own on the year.

Why the Kansas City Royals will win

• The Reds have lost each of their last eight games as home favorites against AL Central opponents following a win.
• The Royals have won four of their last five games as road underdogs against the Reds.
• The Reds have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 12 home games against AL Central opponents following a win.
• The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the Royals' last six games at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati Reds Recap

The Cincinnati Reds come into this set trying to build on their series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, winning Wednesday’s series finale by a final score of 9-2. The sweep helped the Reds bounce back after a series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last weekend.

Reds Trying To Get Back To .500

Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds with 120 hits, 21 home runs and 52 RBIs with 59 stolen bases along with a .263 batting average as well. Spencer Steer has a team-high 75 RBIs with 26 doubles, 18 home runs and 20 stolen bases while Will Benson also has 17 doubles with 14 stolen bases but also has 131 strikeouts. De La Cruz also has a team-high 162 strikeouts so far this season. Jeimer Candelario also has 23 doubles as well as 19 home runs, 55 RBIs and 93 hits this season for Cincinnati.

Why the Cincinnati Reds will win

• The Royals have lost seven of their last eight night games against NL Central opponents following a win.
• The Reds have won each of their last five night games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Reds have covered the run line in 12 of their last 13 night games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games following a win.

Kansas City Royals vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction

I’m on the Royals here. I just don’t think Nick Martinez is a viable option to be starting a game at the major league level and while he’s had decent starts in his last couple of turns, both of those starts came on the road. Martinez has really struggled in Cincinnati this season and the Royals have a solid lineup one through nine. Lorenzen has strong career numbers at Great American from his years with the Reds, and I think that helps him guide the Royals to a win here.