Friday, July 1, 2016

Citizens Bank Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ian Kennedy vs. Jeremy Hellickson

The Kansas City Royals visit Citizens Bank Park on Friday to play the Philadelphia Phillies. The probable starters are Ian Kennedy for the Royals and Jeremy Hellickson for the Phillies. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at -113 and Philadelphia at +103. The over/under was set at 8. The Royals have a 34-38-5 over/under record and a 43-34-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 56% of the time. The Phillies are 39-41-0 against the run line and have a 39-39-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 49% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 41-36 record, including 14-25 on the road. Starting pitcher Ian Kennedy has a 6-6 record with an earned run average of 3.96 and a WHIP of 1.18. He has 85 strikeouts over his 88.2 innings pitched and he has given up 76 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7.7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.25. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.74 and they have given up 224 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .226 against the bullpen while being struck out 249 times and walking 89 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.54 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.22 batters per nine. They are 14th in the league in team earned run average at 4.11. The Royals pitchers have collectively given up 646 base hits and 311 earned runs. They have allowed 101 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a pitching staff has walked 252 batters and struck out 622. They walk 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.32 and their FIP as a unit is 4.50.

As a team, Kansas City is batting .278, good for 2nd in the league while putting together a .263 average away from home. The Royals hold a .413 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .325 which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 2nd in baseball with 9.61 hits per game. Eric Hosmer comes into this game hitting .305 and his on-base percentage is at .365. He has 90 hits this season along with 43 runs scored and 48 runs batted in. He's struck out 65 times and has walked 28 times. Lorenzo Cain is hitting .290 and he has an on-base percentage of .336. He has totaled 83 hits so far while scoring 39 runs and he's driven in 39. He has walked 19 times and has struck out 64 times. The Royals have 739 hits, including 135 doubles and 68 home runs. They've stolen 47 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 18 times. Kansas City has walked 176 times this season and they've struck out 559 times as a unit. They've left 539 men on base and have a team OPS of .738. They score 4.08 runs per contest and have scored a total of 314 runs so far this year.

Philadelphia comes into this matchup with a 16-22 home record and a 35-45 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.23, Jeremy Hellickson has a 5-6 record and a 1.23 WHIP. He has 84 strikeouts over the 93.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 91 hits. He has allowed 8.7 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.45. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.44 and they have given up 259 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .253 against the Phillies bullpen while being struck out 262 times and walking 104 times this season. As a team, Philadelphia has allowed 9.14 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.72 batters per nine. They are 17th in the league in team earned run average at 4.37. The Phillies pitchers as a team have surrendered 717 base knocks and 343 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 103 home runs this year and they give up 1.3 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Philadelphia as a staff has walked 222 hitters and struck out 684. They give up a walk 2.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.7 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.33 while their FIP as a staff is 4.16.

As a team, they are batting .238, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .213 average at home. The Phillies hold a .380 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .291 which is good for 30th in baseball. They rank 29th in baseball with 7.83 hits per contest. Odubel Herrera comes into this matchup batting .303 and he has an OBP of .393. He has 88 hits this year along with 44 runs scored and 28 RBI. He's struck out 59 times and has walked on 42 occasions. Maikel Franco is hitting .243 and he has an OBP of .302. He has collected 67 hits so far while he's scored 26 runs and drove in 41. He has earned a walk 23 times and has punched out 57 times. The Phillies as a unit have 626 base hits, including 117 doubles and 72 homers. They have 32 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 26 times. Philadelphia as a team has walked 189 times this year and they have struck out 627 times. They've had 473 men left on base and have an OPS of .671. They score 3.48 runs per game and have totaled 278 runs so far this season.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 34-38-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 43-34-0 against the run line so far this season

Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends

The Philadelphia Phillies are 39-39-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Philadelphia Phillies are 39-41-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

06/29/16 CF Lorenzo Cain Hamstring 15-day DL (6/29)
05/26/16 3B Mike Moustakas Knee 60-day DL (5/23); out for season
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)

Philadelphia Phillies

05/01/16 P Dalier Hinojosa Hand 15-day DL (4/29)
04/24/16 P Charlie Morton Hamstring 60-day DL (4/24); out for season
04/14/16 P Daniel Stumpf Suspension 80-game suspension
03/31/16 LF Aaron Altherr Wrist 60-day DL (4/2)
03/31/16 P Matt Harrison Back 60-day DL (4/2)

Guy's Pick: Take the Royals

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