Houston Astros (73-62) vs Kansas City Royals (75-61)
Game Info: Sunday, September 1, 2024 at 2:10 pm (Minute Maid Park)
The Line: Betting Odds: Houston Astros -175 / Kansas City Royals +148 — Over/Under: 8.5
The Kansas City Royals and the Houston Astros meet Sunday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros prediction. This will be the final 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
The Royals played the Cleveland Guardians in their last series. Kansas City won the first three games before a 7-5 loss in the finale. After dropping the first two games to the Astros 6-3 and 3-2, on Saturday KC took a 5-2 loss. Starter Cole Ragans logged 5.0 innings with five earned and 10 Ks.
In the starter slot for the Royals on Sunday will be Alec Marsh. This year Marsh is 7-7 with a 4.67 ERA in 21 games (20 starts). Marsh is 10-16 with a 5.09 ERA in 38 career games (28 starts).
Houston Astros Betting Preview
Over on the Houston side, they played the Philadelphia Phillies in their last series. The Astros lost the first pair prior to a 10-0 Wednesday win. On Saturday Houston was out-hit 7-5 in the win. Yusei Kikuchi was great on 7.0 innings, one earned and 12 strikeouts as starter.
It’ll be Ronel Blanco in the starter role for the Astros on Sunday. So far Blanco is 9-6 with a 3.14 ERA in 25 starts. Blanco is 11-7 with a 3.61 ERA in 49 carer games (32 starts).
Total Runs Facts
- Four of the Astros’ last five games against AL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Four of the Royals’ last five games as underdogs against AL West opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last 10 games as road underdogs against AL West opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last four games as home favorites against AL Central opponents.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five appearances in day games.
- Kyle Tucker has scored at least one run in each of his last six appearances in day games against teams that held a winning record.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one Single in each of his last 10 appearances with the Astros as home favorites against AL opponents.
- Alex Bregman has hit a home run in three of the Astros’ last four day games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Yainer Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last 12 games against AL opponents.
- Yainer Diaz has recorded at least one total base in each of the Astros’ last 12 games against AL opponents.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Paul DeJong has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight road appearances after playing the previous day.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one Single in each of the Royals’ last eight Sunday day games.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in four of the Royals’ last five day games.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one hit in each of the Royals’ last 11 Sunday games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one total base in each of the Royals’ last 11 Sunday games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded an RBI in each of the Royals’ last four day games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Austin Nola has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances with his team as a road underdog against AL West opponents.
Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros Prediction
I’m sticking with the Astros. Blanco did have a rough start on August 20 versus the Red Sox, giving up five earned on six hits and four walks in 3.2 innings. In the other two of his last three starts however, Blanco has 11.2 innings with just two combined earned runs.
On Saturday the Astros were only able to score in one inning (the five-run sixth) but that was plenty enough for the victory. Kikuchi started things off well on the mound and the bullpen followed in a pretty solid effort all around. I like Houston to finish strong in another victory Sunday.