Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Steven Wright vs. Edinson Volquez

The Boston Red Sox visit Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday to play the Kansas City Royals. The probable starters are Steven Wright for the Red Sox and Edinson Volquez for the Royals. The opening line for this matchup has Boston at -110 and Kansas City at -110. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Red Sox have a 22-15-1 over/under record and a 23-15-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 61% of the time. The Royals are 18-19-0 against the run line and have a 13-22-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 49% of the time.

The Red Sox head into this matchup with a 24-14 record, including 10-6 on the road. Starting pitcher Steven Wright has a 3-3 record with an earned run average of 2.36 and a WHIP of 1.14. He has 41 strikeouts over his 45.2 innings pitched and he has given up 34 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.25. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.17 and they have given up 102 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .220 against the bullpen while being struck out 139 times and walking 57 times this season. As a team, Boston has allowed 8.26 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.18 batters per nine. They are 18th in the league in team earned run average at 4.21. The Red Sox pitchers have collectively given up 314 base hits and 160 earned runs. They have allowed 35 home runs this season and they allow 0.9 homers per nine innings as a staff. Boston as a pitching staff has walked 143 batters and struck out 349. They walk 3.8 men per 9 innings while striking out 9.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.34 and their FIP as a unit is 3.82.

As a team, Boston is batting .298, good for 1st in the league while putting together a .281 average away from home. The Red Sox hold a .489 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .359 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 1st in baseball with 10.68 hits per game. Xander Bogaerts comes into this game hitting .338 and his on-base percentage is at .390. He has 53 hits this season along with 31 runs scored and 22 runs batted in. He's struck out 28 times and has walked 13 times. Dustin Pedroia is hitting .299 and he has an on-base percentage of .349. He has totaled 47 hits so far while scoring 28 runs and he's driven in 20. He has walked 12 times and has struck out 26 times. The Red Sox have 406 hits, including 101 doubles and 45 home runs. They've stolen 30 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 2 times. Boston has walked 123 times this season and they've struck out 289 times as a unit. They've left 272 men on base and have a team OPS of .848. They score 6.03 runs per contest and have scored a total of 229 runs so far this year.

Kansas City comes into this matchup with a 11-6 home record and a 18-19 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.51, Edinson Volquez has a 4-3 record and a 1.34 WHIP. He has 38 strikeouts over the 48.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 50 hits. He has allowed 9.2 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.53. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.77 and they have given up 114 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .233 against the Royals bullpen while being struck out 131 times and walking 42 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.36 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.17 batters per nine. They are 14th in the league in team earned run average at 3.93. The Royals pitchers as a team have surrendered 302 base knocks and 142 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 137 hitters and struck out 295. They give up a walk 3.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.35 while their FIP as a staff is 4.18.

As a team, they are batting .254, good for 13th in the league while putting together a .250 average at home. The Royals hold a .385 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .306 which is good for 22nd in baseball. They rank 13th in baseball with 8.62 hits per contest. Eric Hosmer comes into this matchup batting .336 and he has an OBP of .392. He has 47 hits this year along with 19 runs scored and 17 RBI. He's struck out 27 times and has walked on 13 occasions. Alcides Escobar is hitting .264 and he has an OBP of .298. He has collected 42 hits so far while he's scored 13 runs and drove in 11. He has earned a walk 7 times and has punched out 23 times. The Royals as a unit have 319 base hits, including 58 doubles and 33 homers. They have 28 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 261 times. They've had 247 men left on base and have an OPS of .691. They score 3.54 runs per game and have totaled 131 runs so far this season.

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

The Boston Red Sox are 22-15-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Boston Red Sox are 23-15-0 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 13-22-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 18-19-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Boston Red Sox

05/03/16 3B Pablo Sandoval Shoulder 60-day DL (4/11); out for season
04/19/16 P Joe Kelly Shoulder 15-day DL (4/19)
04/04/16 P Brandon Workman Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Eduardo Rodrigue Knee 15-day DL (4/2)

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 Red Sox

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