Sunday, August 28, 2016

Fenway Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Yordano Ventura vs. Eduardo Rodriguez

The Kansas City Royals visit Fenway Park on Sunday to play the Boston Red Sox. The probable starters are Yordano Ventura for the Royals and Eduardo Rodriguez for the Red Sox. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at +131 and Boston at -141. The over/under was set at 9.5. The Royals have a 51-69-8 over/under record and a 70-58-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 55% of the time. The Red Sox are 63-65-0 against the run line and have a 62-60-6 over/under record. They cover the spread 49% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 67-61 record, including 27-40 on the road. Starting pitcher Yordano Ventura has a 9-9 record with an earned run average of 4.27 and a WHIP of 1.33. He has 114 strikeouts over his 145.1 innings pitched and he has given up 135 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.69. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.11 and they have given up 369 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .235 against the bullpen while being struck out 401 times and walking 139 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.56 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.21 batters per nine. They are 10th in the league in team earned run average at 3.97. The Royals pitchers have collectively given up 1,078 base hits and 500 earned runs. They have allowed 162 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a pitching staff has walked 389 batters and struck out 1,034. They walk 3.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.29 and their FIP as a unit is 4.34.

As a team, Kansas City is batting .263, good for 6th in the league while putting together a .247 average away from home. The Royals hold a .399 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .313 which is good for 22nd in baseball. They rank 7th in baseball with 8.98 hits per game. Alcides Escobar comes into this game hitting .265 and his on-base percentage is at .295. He has 137 hits this season along with 46 runs scored and 37 runs batted in. He's struck out 69 times and has walked 23 times. Eric Hosmer is hitting .275 and he has an on-base percentage of .333. He has totaled 134 hits so far while scoring 62 runs and he's driven in 76. He has walked 43 times and has struck out 102 times. The Royals have 1,148 hits, including 216 doubles and 112 home runs. They've stolen 81 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 26 times. Kansas City has walked 299 times this season and they've struck out 953 times as a unit. They've left 844 men on base and have a team OPS of .711. They score 3.96 runs per contest and have scored a total of 507 runs so far this year.

Boston comes into this matchup with a 38-28 home record and a 71-57 overall mark. With an earned run average of 5.11, Eduardo Rodriguez has a 2-5 record and a 1.40 WHIP. He has 60 strikeouts over the 68.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 72 hits. He has allowed 9.4 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.91. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.87 and they have given up 333 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .236 against the Red Sox bullpen while being struck out 399 times and walking 152 times this season. As a team, Boston has allowed 8.6 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.45 batters per nine. They are 16th in the league in team earned run average at 4.16. The Red Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,088 base knocks and 526 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 143 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Boston as a staff has walked 395 hitters and struck out 1,068. They give up a walk 3.1 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.4 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.30 while their FIP as a staff is 4.09.

As a team, they are batting .284, good for 1st in the league while putting together a .303 average at home. The Red Sox hold a .464 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .349 which is good for 1st in baseball. They rank 1st in baseball with 9.98 hits per contest. Xander Bogaerts comes into this matchup batting .308 and he has an OBP of .365. He has 160 hits this year along with 90 runs scored and 71 RBI. He's struck out 91 times and has walked on 43 occasions. Mookie Betts is hitting .320 and he has an OBP of .360. He has collected 173 hits so far while he's scored 99 runs and drove in 93. He has earned a walk 35 times and has punched out 72 times. The Red Sox as a unit have 1,278 base hits, including 281 doubles and 161 homers. They have 71 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 17 times. Boston as a team has walked 432 times this year and they have struck out 921 times. They've had 927 men left on base and have an OPS of .813. They score 5.41 runs per game and have totaled 692 runs so far this season.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 51-69-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 70-58-0 against the run line so far this season

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

The Boston Red Sox are 62-60-6 against the over/under so far this season

The Boston Red Sox are 63-65-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

07/31/16 P Wade Davis Hip 15-day DL (7/30)
07/29/16 P Luke Hochevar Shoulder 15-day DL (7/25)
07/19/16 P Kris Medlen Shoulder 60-day DL (5/11)
05/26/16 3B Mike Moustakas Knee 60-day DL (5/23); out for season
04/10/16 P Mike Minor Shoulder 60-day DL (3/15); out for season
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)

Boston Red Sox

08/26/16 P Eduardo Rodriguez Hamstring is upgraded to expected to start Sunday vs Kansas City Royals
08/25/16 LF Andrew Benintendi Knee 15-day DL (8/25)
08/06/16 C Ryan Hanigan Ankle 15-day DL (8/5)
07/20/16 P Koji Uehara Pectoral 15-day DL (7/20)
06/17/16 2B Josh Rutledge Knee 60-day DL (6/15)
06/07/16 P Carson Smith Elbow 60-day DL (5/15)
06/06/16 C Blake Swihart Ankle 60-day DL (6/5)
05/03/16 3B Pablo Sandoval Shoulder 60-day DL (4/11); out for season
04/04/16 P Brandon Workman Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Guy's Pick: Take the Royals

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