Sunday, May 15, 2016

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Matt Wisler vs. Danny Duffy

The Atlanta Braves visit Kauffman Stadium on Sunday to play the Kansas City Royals. The probable starters are Matt Wisler for the Braves and Danny Duffy for the Royals. The opening line for this matchup has Atlanta at +155 and Kansas City at -165. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Braves have a 17-13-4 over/under record and a 13-21-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 38% of the time. The Royals are 17-18-0 against the run line and have a 13-20-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 49% of the time.

The Braves head into this matchup with a 8-26 record, including 6-9 on the road. Starting pitcher Matt Wisler has a 1-3 record with an earned run average of 3.27 and a WHIP of 0.97. He has 25 strikeouts over his 41.1 innings pitched and he has given up 29 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.3 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.46. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.81 and they have given up 113 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .251 against the bullpen while being struck out 123 times and walking 63 times this season. As a team, Atlanta has allowed 8.62 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.82 batters per nine. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.57. The Braves pitchers have collectively given up 292 base hits and 155 earned runs. They have allowed 38 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Atlanta as a pitching staff has walked 131 batters and struck out 265. They walk 3.9 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.8 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.39 and their FIP as a unit is 4.38.

As a team, Atlanta is batting .226, good for 29th in the league while putting together a .214 average away from home. The Braves hold a .291 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .290 which is good for 27th in baseball. They rank 27th in baseball with 7.59 hits per game. Nick Markakis comes into this game hitting .266 and his on-base percentage is at .363. He has 33 hits this season along with 12 runs scored and 21 runs batted in. He's struck out 22 times and has walked 18 times. Freddie Freeman is hitting .279 and he has an on-base percentage of .376. He has totaled 34 hits so far while scoring 15 runs and he's driven in 10. He has walked 16 times and has struck out 33 times. The Braves have 258 hits, including 48 doubles and 9 home runs. They've stolen 16 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 8 times. Atlanta has walked 95 times this season and they've struck out 272 times as a unit. They've left 234 men on base and have a team OPS of .582. They score 3 runs per contest and have scored a total of 102 runs so far this year.

Kansas City comes into this matchup with a 10-5 home record and a 17-18 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.00, Danny Duffy has a 0-0 record and a 1.22 WHIP. He has 21 strikeouts over the 18 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 17 hits. He has allowed 8.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 2.3. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.79 and they have given up 100 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .229 against the Royals bullpen while being struck out 115 times and walking 39 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.35 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.99 batters per nine. They are 14th in the league in team earned run average at 4.01. The Royals pitchers as a team have surrendered 281 base knocks and 135 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 38 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a staff has walked 129 hitters and struck out 269. They give up a walk 3.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.35 while their FIP as a staff is 4.33.

As a team, they are batting .254, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .249 average at home. The Royals hold a .387 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .309 which is good for 21st in baseball. They rank 13th in baseball with 8.54 hits per contest. Eric Hosmer comes into this matchup batting .338 and he has an OBP of .399. He has 44 hits this year along with 19 runs scored and 16 RBI. He's struck out 24 times and has walked on 13 occasions. Alcides Escobar is hitting .255 and he has an OBP of .291. He has collected 38 hits so far while he's scored 11 runs and drove in 10. He has earned a walk 7 times and has punched out 22 times. The Royals as a unit have 299 base hits, including 52 doubles and 32 homers. They have 26 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 9 times. Kansas City as a team has walked 85 times this year and they have struck out 244 times. They've had 234 men left on base and have an OPS of .696. They score 3.63 runs per game and have totaled 127 runs so far this season.

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 17-13-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 13-21-0 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 13-20-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 17-18-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Atlanta Braves

05/11/16 P Jim Johnson Groin 15-day DL (5/9)
04/13/16 2B Hector Olivera Legal problems out indefinitely
04/12/16 P Daniel Winkler Elbow 15-day DL (4/11)
04/04/16 P Andrew McKiraha Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Manuel Banuelos Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Paco Rodrigue Elbow out for season
04/04/16 P Shae Simmons Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)

Kansas City Royals

05/12/16 P Chris Young Forearm 15-day DL (5/9)
05/12/16 P Kris Medlen Shoulder 15-day DL (5/10)
05/07/16 3B Mike Moustakas Hand 15-day DL (5/5)
04/10/16 P Mike Minor Shoulder 60-day DL (3/15)
04/04/16 P Tim Collins Elbow 60-day DL; out for season
03/31/16 P Jason Vargas Elbow 60-day DL (3/15)

Guy's Pick: Take the Braves

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