Sunday, May 1, 2016

Safeco Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ian Kennedy vs. Taijuan Walker

The Kansas City Royals visit Safeco Field on Sunday to play the Seattle Mariners. The probable starters are Ian Kennedy for the Royals and Taijuan Walker for the Mariners. The Royals have a 5-15-2 over/under record and a 12-10-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 55% of the time. The Mariners are 12-10-0 against the run line and have a 8-13-1 over/under record. They cover the spread 55% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 12-10 record, including 4-7 on the road. Starting pitcher Ian Kennedy has a 2-2 record with an earned run average of 2.77 and a WHIP of 1.12. He has 23 strikeouts over his 26 innings pitched and he has given up 20 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.9 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.19. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.51 and they have given up 53 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .212 against the bullpen while being struck out 70 times and walking 28 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 7.69 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.48 batters per nine. They are 7th in the league in team earned run average at 3.42. The Royals pitchers have collectively given up 163 base hits and 72 earned runs. They have allowed 20 home runs this season and they allow 0.9 homers per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a pitching staff has walked 87 batters and struck out 181. They walk 4.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.30 and their FIP as a unit is 4.02.

As a team, Kansas City is batting .255, good for 10th in the league while putting together a .251 average away from home. The Royals hold a .398 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .311 which is good for 17th in baseball. They rank 11th in baseball with 8.55 hits per game. Eric Hosmer comes into this game hitting .341 and his on-base percentage is at .385. He has 29 hits this season along with 10 runs scored and 8 runs batted in. He's struck out 14 times and has walked 6 times. Mike Moustakas is hitting .262 and he has an on-base percentage of .326. He has totaled 22 hits so far while scoring 11 runs and he's driven in 11. He has walked 8 times and has struck out 8 times. The Royals have 188 hits, including 37 doubles and 20 home runs. They've stolen 18 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 4 times. Kansas City has walked 60 times this season and they've struck out 152 times as a unit. They've left 154 men on base and have a team OPS of .709. They score 3.5 runs per contest and have scored a total of 77 runs so far this year.

Seattle comes into this matchup with a 4-6 home record and a 12-10 overall mark. With an earned run average of 1.44, Taijuan Walker has a 2-0 record and a 0.96 WHIP. He has 25 strikeouts over the 25 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 21 hits. He has allowed 7.6 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 2.08. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.53 and they have given up 39 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .172 against the Mariners bullpen while being struck out 71 times and walking 21 times this season. As a team, Seattle has allowed 7.5 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.73 batters per nine. They are 5th in the league in team earned run average at 3.18. The Mariners pitchers as a team have surrendered 165 base knocks and 70 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 20 home runs this year and they give up 0.9 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Seattle as a staff has walked 69 hitters and struck out 192. They give up a walk 3.1 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.7 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.18 while their FIP as a staff is 3.59.

As a team, they are batting .226, good for 28th in the league while putting together a .192 average at home. The Mariners hold a .392 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .306 which is good for 21st in baseball. They rank 27th in baseball with 7.55 hits per contest. Nelson Cruz comes into this matchup batting .262 and he has an OBP of .351. He has 22 hits this year along with 9 runs scored and 13 RBI. He's struck out 19 times and has walked on 10 occasions. Robinson Cano is hitting .236 and he has an OBP of .306. He has collected 21 hits so far while he's scored 12 runs and drove in 24. He has earned a walk 8 times and has punched out 12 times. The Mariners as a unit have 166 base hits, including 28 doubles and 30 homers. They have 6 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 6 times. Seattle as a team has walked 76 times this year and they have struck out 170 times. They've had 141 men left on base and have an OPS of .698. They score 4.27 runs per game and have totaled 94 runs so far this season.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 5-15-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 12-10-0 against the run line so far this season

Seattle Mariners Betting Trends

The Seattle Mariners are 8-13-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Seattle Mariners are 12-10-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

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)

Seattle Mariners

04/25/16 P Joaquin Benoit Shoulder 15-day DL (4/25)
04/04/16 P Charlie Furbush Bicep 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Evan Scribner Oblique 15-day DL (3/25)
03/30/16 C Jesus Sucre Leg 60-day DL
03/30/16 P Ryan Cook Shoulder 60-day DL (3/12)

Tony's Pick: Take the Royals

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