Sunday, July 3, 2016

Citizens Bank Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Yordano Ventura vs. Vincent Velasquez

The Kansas City Royals visit Citizens Bank Park on Sunday to play the Philadelphia Phillies. The probable starters are Yordano Ventura for the Royals and Vincent Velasquez for the Phillies. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at +106 and Philadelphia at -116. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Royals have a 34-40-5 over/under record and a 44-35-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 56% of the time. The Phillies are 40-41-0 against the run line and have a 39-40-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 49% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 42-37 record, including 15-26 on the road. Starting pitcher Yordano Ventura has a 6-5 record with an earned run average of 5.00 and a WHIP of 1.45. He has 63 strikeouts over his 84.2 innings pitched and he has given up 84 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.9 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.88. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.73 and they have given up 232 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .227 against the bullpen while being struck out 259 times and walking 90 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.53 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.32 batters per nine. They are 14th in the league in team earned run average at 4.09. The Royals pitchers have collectively given up 661 base hits and 317 earned runs. They have allowed 104 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a pitching staff has walked 262 batters and struck out 645. They walk 3.4 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.3 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 .276, good for 2nd in the league while putting together a .261 average away from home. The Royals hold a .413 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .324 which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 2nd in baseball with 9.56 hits per game. Eric Hosmer comes into this game hitting .305 and his on-base percentage is at .365. He has 92 hits this season along with 43 runs scored and 48 runs batted in. He's struck out 66 times and has walked 29 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 754 hits, including 141 doubles and 70 home runs. They've stolen 49 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 18 times. Kansas City has walked 178 times this season and they've struck out 572 times as a unit. They've left 549 men on base and have a team OPS of .736. They score 4.06 runs per contest and have scored a total of 321 runs so far this year.

Philadelphia comes into this matchup with a 17-22 home record and a 36-45 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.38, Vincent Velasquez has a 6-2 record and a 1.25 WHIP. He has 80 strikeouts over the 66.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 61 hits. He has allowed 8.2 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.35. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.46 and they have given up 262 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .253 against the Phillies bullpen while being struck out 263 times and walking 104 times this season. As a team, Philadelphia has allowed 9.13 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.7 batters per nine. They are 17th in the league in team earned run average at 4.36. The Phillies pitchers as a team have surrendered 725 base knocks and 346 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 104 home runs this year and they give up 1.3 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Philadelphia as a staff has walked 223 hitters and struck out 691. 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 4.15.

As a team, they are batting .239, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .217 average at home. The Phillies hold a .382 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .293 which is good for 30th in baseball. They rank 29th in baseball with 7.88 hits per contest. Odubel Herrera comes into this matchup batting .306 and he has an OBP of .396. He has 90 hits this year along with 46 runs scored and 30 RBI. He's struck out 60 times and has walked on 43 occasions. Maikel Franco is hitting .247 and he has an OBP of .307. He has collected 69 hits so far while he's scored 26 runs and drove in 42. He has earned a walk 24 times and has punched out 58 times. The Phillies as a unit have 638 base hits, including 120 doubles and 73 homers. They have 34 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 27 times. Philadelphia as a team has walked 192 times this year and they have struck out 638 times. They've had 482 men left on base and have an OPS of .674. They score 3.48 runs per game and have totaled 282 runs so far this season.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 34-40-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 44-35-0 against the run line so far this season

Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends

The Philadelphia Phillies are 39-40-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Philadelphia Phillies are 40-41-0 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)

Josh's Pick: Take the Royals

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