Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros Prediction MLB Picks 8/31/24

The Kansas City Royals and the Houston Astros meet Saturday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros prediction. This will be the third installment in a four-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Royals vs Astros pick. We will examine:

The Kansas City Royals’ recent form and player performance

The Houston Astros’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Kansas City Royals

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Houston Astros

Recent betting trends in games played between the Royals and Astros

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Royals vs Astros game

Kansas City Royals Betting Preview

This week the Royals took on the Cleveland Guardians. Kansas City won the first three games before a 7-5 loss Wednesday. After a 6-3 loss to Houston in the opener, on Friday KC took a tough loss 3-2. Seth Lugo went 7.0 innings with one earned run.

As a starter for Saturday, the Royals will send out Cole Ragans. This year in 27 starts Ragans is 10-8 with a 3.28 ERA. In 65 career games (48 starts) Ragans is 17-16 with a 3.57 ERA.

Houston Astros Betting Preview

In their last series, the Astros played the Philadelphia Phillies. Houston lost the first pair before a 10-0 blowout win to stop the sweep. In the Friday matchup, the Astros out-hit KC 10-2 on the way to the victory. Starter Framber Valdez left after 7.0 clean frames, zero hits, three walks, and seven Ks.

In the starter slot for the Astros on Saturday they’re going with Yusei Kikuchi. Over his 27 starts, Kikuchi is 6-9 with a 4.39 ERA. Kikuchi has a 4.65 career ERA and a 38-46 record in 161 career games (149 starts).

Total Runs Facts

• Nine of the Royals’ last 12 night games as underdogs have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Three of the Astros’ last four night games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last nine games as road underdogs against AL West opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last five night games against American League opponents.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Yainer Diaz has hit a home run in three of his last five home appearances after playing the previous day.
• Yainer Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last 11 games against AL opponents.
• Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one Single in each of his last nine appearances with the Astros as home favorites against AL opponents.
• Yainer Diaz has recorded at least one total base in each of the Astros’ last 11 games against AL opponents.
• Yainer Diaz has scored at least one run in 11 of the Astros’ last 12 night games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Yusei Kikuchi has recorded seven or more strikeouts in five of his last six appearances with his team as a home favorite against AL opponents.
• Chas McCormick has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last three home appearances against the Royals.
• Jose Altuve has recorded a Double in three of the Astros’ last four games as favorites against the Royals.

Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts

• Paul DeJong has hit a home run in three of the Royals’ last four night games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Paul DeJong has scored at least one run in each of his last six road appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Austin Nola has recorded at least one RBI in three of his last four road appearances against AL West opponents.
• Kyle Isbel has recorded at least one hit in nine of his last 10 appearances against AL West opponents.
• Austin Nola has recorded at least one Single in each of his last four road appearances against AL West opponents.
• Hunter Renfroe has recorded two or more total bases in four of his last five appearances in night games.

Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros Prediction

I’m going with Houston. Kikuchi had a couple of spotty moments in his last start versus Baltimore, ending up with three earned in 5.2 innings for a no-decision. In his two starts prior, however, Kikuchi had two earned in a combined 11.1 innings. As for Ragans, he’s 1-1 in his last three with six earned (four in one start) over 16.0 innings total.

On Friday Houston got a great start from Valdez, but there was a little drama on the scoreboard in the ninth inning. Kikuchi should be able to notch a good start himself, and if the bullpen comes through the Astros will be in a great position for another W in game three.