Boston Red Sox vs Kansas City Royals Prediction 5/20/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

The Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals meet Wednesday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Boston Red Sox will send out Connelly Early for the start in this one and Early is 3-2 with a 3.21 ERA and 45 strikeouts this season. This will be Early’s first career start against the Royals. Michael Wacha will start for Kansas City here and is 4-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 47 strikeouts this season. In his last 5 starts against Boston, Wacha is 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA and 24 strikeouts. 

Boston Red Sox Recap

The Boston Red Sox come into this game looking to add on to their 7-1 win over the Royals last time out to sit at 21-27 this season. After this series, the Red Sox will head home for a series against Minnesota.

Red Sox Win Back-To-Back Games

Wilyer Abreu leads the Red Sox with 53 hits including 7 doubles, a triple, 6 home runs and 19 RBIs while Trevor Story has 34 hits with 7 doubles, 3 homers and 19 RBIs and Marcelo Mayer’s added 28 hits with 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 9 RBIs as well. Roman Anthony has 25 hits with 5 doubles, a triple, a home run and 5 RBIs so far this season while Jarren Duran has 32 hits with 9 doubles, 5 home runs and 22 RBIs as well this season. Willson Contreras has added 42 hits with 6 doubles, 10 homers and 30 RBIs of his own on the year.

Kansas City Royals Recap

The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to bounce back from their loss at the hands of the Red Sox on Tuesday last time out to sit at 20-29 this season. After this series, the Royals will take on the Mariners in a series at home. 

Royals Lose 8 Of Last 9

Kyle Isbel has 33 hits with 3 home runs and 10 RBIs. Jac Caglianone has 35 hits with 9 doubles, 5 home runs, 10 RBIs and a triple while Bobby Witt Jr. has 58 hits with 12 doubles, 7 home runs and 23 RBIs and Vinnie Pasquantino’s added 34 hits with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 22 RBIs on the year. Maikel Garcia also has 49 hits with 13 doubles, 3 home runs and 18 RBIs this season. Carter Jensen’s also chipped in 6 home runs and 19 RBIs this season.

Boston Red Sox @ Kansas City Royals Betting Trends: May 20, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Michael Wacha      Record this season: 4-2      ERA: 2.83
• Home Record: 3-1
• Last 5 against Red Sox: 2-1

Why the Kansas City Royals will win

• The Royals have won eight of their last nine night games at Kauffman Stadium following a home loss.
• The Red Sox have lost four of their last five games following a win.
• The Red Sox have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five games following a win.
• The Royals have led after 3 innings in each of their last six Wednesday night home games.
• The Red Sox have trailed after 5 innings in four of their last five games as underdogs.
• The Red Sox have lost the first inning in four of their last five games as underdogs.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Connelly Early      Record this season: 3-2      ERA: 3.21
• Road Record: 2-0
• Last 5 against Royals: –

Why the Boston Red Sox will win

• The Royals have lost each of their last six games as favorites.
• The Red Sox have won each of their last four games as road underdogs against AL Central opponents.
• The Red Sox have covered the run line in each of their last 10 games as road underdogs against AL Central opponents.
• The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine games against AL East opponents.
• The Red Sox have led after 3 innings in four of their last five games against the Royals.
• The Red Sox have led after 5 innings in five of their last six road games against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the Red Sox’s last eight night games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Five of the Royals’ last six games as favorites have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 12 of the Red Sox’s last 13 Wednesday games against American League opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in six of the Royals’ last seven games as favorites against AL East opponents.

Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts

• Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in seven of the Royals’ last 13 games as favorites against AL opponents.
• Michael Wacha has recorded a win in each of his last five appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
• Michael Wacha has recorded five or more strikeouts in nine of his last 10 appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
• Kyle Isbel has recorded at least one hit in each of his last six appearances.
• Bobby Witt Jr. ranks T2nd in the league in Hits (58) this season.

Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts

• Willson Contreras has hit a home run in three of the Red Sox’s last four games as underdogs against AL opponents.
• Connor Wong has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine road appearances against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Royals rank 27th in the league for runs scored this season (191).
• The Royals rank 27th in the league for walks allowed this season (206).
• The Red Sox rank 29th in the league for runs scored this season (177).
• The Red Sox rank 29th in the league for home runs this season (35).

Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction

I’m on the under in this one. The Royals can’t score right now and Connelly Early has been one of the better options the Red Sox have had this season and the Royals have Wacha going who has arguably been their best option as well and I’m still not 100% sold on the Red Sox. Give me the under.

Chris Ruffolo's Pick: Under 8