Friday, September 12, 2014

Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Kauffman Stadium will be the site to a must win game for the Kansas City Royals. The Royals are in an extremely close battle in the American League central division and need to keep pace with the second place Detroit Tigers. The Royals will send right-hander Yordano Ventura (12-9) to the mound to take on the Boston Red Sox and right-hander Allen Webster (3-3).

The Red Sox are near the end of one of their worst seasons in recent memory. With Webster on the mound, they have a pitcher that has made it into the 7th inning just once this season and has nearly walked more batters than he has struck out. In 40.1 innings, he has allowed 29 earned runs off 40 hits and 25 walks and has just 26 strikeouts. In his career against the Royals, he has allowed 4 hits in 21 at-bats with Alcides Escobar and Alex Gordon accounting for all the hits.

Kansas City is looking for their first playoff experience since they won the World Series in 1985. Since then, they have finished in second place in the division just twice and have struggled to even play .500 ball. When they send Ventura to the mound, they will hope that their young Dominican player can continue his recent hot streak. He has won 3 straight starts, allowing just 3 earned runs in 18.1 innings with 12 hits allowed and 9 strikeouts. Against current Boston players, he has allowed 10 hits in 20 at-bats.

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

Boston Red Sox are 61-81-4 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Boston Red Sox is -0.6

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

Kansas City Royals are 62-75-7 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Kansas City Royals is 0.2

Injuries to Watch

Boston Red Sox

09/11/14 1B Mike Napoli Illness questionable
09/10/14 CF Brock Holt Illness questionable
09/10/14 2B Dustin Pedroia Hand out for season
09/10/14 3B Will Middlebrooks Illness questionable
08/01/14 RF Shane Victorino Back 60-day DL (7/30)
05/31/14 1B Ryan Lavarnway Wrist 60-day DL (5/30)

Kansas City Royals

09/10/14 P Greg Holland Tricep questionable
09/08/14 P Danny Duffy Shoulder questionable
09/03/14 2B Christian Colon Finger out indefinitely
08/14/14 P Scott Downs Neck 15-day DL (8/3)
03/30/14 P Luke Hochevar Elbow 60-day DL (3/21)

Josh's Pick: Take Kansas City

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