Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Edinson Volquez (8-4) vs. Vincent Velasquez (0-0)

The Kansas City Royals take on the Houston Astros on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. The probable starters are Edinson Volquez for the Royals and Vincent Velasquez for the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at +105 and Houston at -115. The over/under was set at 8. The Royals, with a 43-30 run line record, cover the spread 59% of the time. They also have a 32-33 over/under record. The Astros have a 37-38 over/under record and a 47-32 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 60% of the time.

The Royals show up with a 44-29 record, including 22-16 on the road. Edinson Volquez has a 8-4 record on the season, an earned run average of 3.18 and a 1.17 WHIP. He's pitched 90.2 innings thus far while surrendering 74 hits over that time and when he starts, the Royals are 11-4. The Royals are also 6-6 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates are averaging 4.9 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 2.06 and they've given up 169 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .192 against the bullpen while being struck out 219 times and walking 86 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.02 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.84 batters per nine. They are 7th in the league in team earned run average at 3.51.

Kansas City ranks 2nd in the league in team batting average at .272 while hitting .268 on the road. Ranked at 10th in the league in on-base percentage, the Royals sit at .321 and they hold a .406 team slugging percentage. They rank 3rd in baseball with 9.29 hits per game and Mike Moustakas leads the team with 85.

Houston is 26-16 at home while holding a 45-34 overall record on the season. Vincent Velasquez has a record of 0-0 while sporting an earned run average of 3.72 on the year with a 1.45 WHIP. He's pitched 19.1 innings thus far while surrendering 17 hits over that time in which the Astros are 2-2. The Astros are also 2-2 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates score an average of 4.2 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 2.57 and they have given up 162 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .190 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 240 times and walking 67 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 7.86 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.75 batters per nine. They are 9th in the league in team earned run average at 3.55.

They rank 27th in the league in team batting average with a .240 average while hitting .234 at home. Ranked at 21st in the league in on-base percentage, the Astros sit at .308 and they hold a .426 team slugging percentage. They rank 27th in baseball with 8.04 hits per game and Jose Altuve leads the team with 82.

The Royals have committed 39 errors and have combined for 702 assists and 1,938 put outs leading to a .985 team fielding percentage. For the home team, they hold a .987 team fielding percentage while committing 40 errors, accumulating 853 assists and compiling 2,130 put outs.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 32-33 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 43-30 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 37-38 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 47-32 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

06/29/15 1B Eric Hosmer Finger expected to miss series vs. Houston Astros
06/18/15 P Yordano Ventura Hand Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/13)
05/17/15 P Brian Flynn Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/16)
04/06/15 P Tim Collins Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/6)
04/04/15 P Kris Medlen Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/07)

Houston Astros

06/26/15 P Chad Qualls Neck Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/25)
06/22/15 CF Jake Marisnick Hamstring Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/19)
05/29/15 P Scott Feldman Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/27)
05/19/15 P Samuel Deduno Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/14)
04/28/15 SS Jed Lowrie Thumb Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/28)
04/17/15 P Brad Peacock Side Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/14)

Tony's Pick: Take the Astros

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