Friday, June 24, 2016

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Dallas Keuchel vs. Edinson Volquez

The Houston Astros visit Kauffman Stadium on Friday to play the Kansas City Royals. The probable starters are Dallas Keuchel for the Astros and Edinson Volquez for the Royals. The opening line for this matchup has Houston at -119 and Kansas City at -101. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Astros have a 33-35-5 over/under record and a 32-41-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 44% of the time. The Royals are 40-31-0 against the run line and have a 31-36-4 over/under record. They cover the spread 56% of the time.

The Astros head into this matchup with a 37-36 record, including 15-21 on the road. Starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel has a 3-9 record with an earned run average of 5.32 and a WHIP of 1.38. He has 87 strikeouts over his 94.2 innings pitched and he has given up 102 hits so far this season. He has allowed 9.7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.78. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.22 and they have given up 206 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .223 against the bullpen while being struck out 263 times and walking 54 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 8.87 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.37 batters per nine. They are 14th in the league in team earned run average at 3.98. The Astros pitchers have collectively given up 660 base hits and 296 earned runs. They have allowed 77 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Houston as a pitching staff has walked 193 batters and struck out 623. They walk 2.6 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.4 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.27 and their FIP as a unit is 3.70.

As a team, Houston is batting .241, good for 24th in the league while putting together a .241 average away from home. The Astros hold a .409 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .324 which is good for 13th in baseball. They rank 23rd in baseball with 8.21 hits per game. Jose Altuve comes into this game hitting .343 and his on-base percentage is at .425. He has 97 hits this season along with 51 runs scored and 41 runs batted in. He's struck out 29 times and has walked 38 times. Carlos Correa is hitting .262 and he has an on-base percentage of .360. He has totaled 69 hits so far while scoring 33 runs and he's driven in 40. He has walked 37 times and has struck out 73 times. The Astros have 599 hits, including 125 doubles and 91 home runs. They've stolen 59 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 22 times. Houston has walked 286 times this season and they've struck out 692 times as a unit. They've left 509 men on base and have a team OPS of .733. They score 4.25 runs per contest and have scored a total of 310 runs so far this year.

Kansas City comes into this matchup with a 25-8 home record and a 38-33 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.12, Edinson Volquez has a 7-6 record and a 1.35 WHIP. He has 73 strikeouts over the 91.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 91 hits. He has allowed 8.9 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.98. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.71 and they have given up 202 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .227 against the Royals bullpen while being struck out 230 times and walking 78 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.47 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.28 batters per nine. They are 10th in the league in team earned run average at 3.95. The Royals pitchers as a team have surrendered 587 base knocks and 274 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 92 home runs this year and they give up 1.3 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a staff has walked 229 hitters and struck out 574. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.3 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.31 while their FIP as a staff is 4.44.

As a team, they are batting .273, good for 2nd in the league while putting together a .286 average at home. The Royals hold a .408 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .321 which is good for 17th in baseball. They rank 4th in baseball with 9.35 hits per contest. Eric Hosmer comes into this matchup batting .305 and he has an OBP of .364. He has 82 hits this year along with 39 runs scored and 44 RBI. He's struck out 58 times and has walked on 25 occasions. Lorenzo Cain is hitting .283 and he has an OBP of .332. He has collected 75 hits so far while he's scored 35 runs and drove in 37. He has earned a walk 19 times and has punched out 63 times. The Royals as a unit have 664 base hits, including 121 doubles and 62 homers. They have 47 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 18 times. Kansas City as a team has walked 160 times this year and they have struck out 522 times. They've had 479 men left on base and have an OPS of .729. They score 4.03 runs per game and have totaled 286 runs so far this season.

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 33-35-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 32-41-0 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 31-36-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 40-31-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Houston Astros

06/23/16 SS Carlos Correa Foot probable Friday vs. Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

05/26/16 3B Mike Moustakas Knee 60-day DL (5/23); out for season
05/23/16 LF Alex Gordon Wrist 15-day DL (5/22)
05/12/16 P Kris Medlen Shoulder 15-day DL (5/11)
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)

Tony's Pick: Take the Astros

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