Thursday, September 15, 2016

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Daniel Mengden vs. Edinson Volquez

The Oakland Athletics head to Kauffman Stadium on Thursday to take on the Kansas City Royals. The probable pitchers are Daniel Mengden for the Athletics and Edinson Volquez for the Royals. The opening line for this game has Oakland at +143 and Kansas City at -153. The over/under is 8.5. The Athletics have a 64-75-5 over/under mark and a 79-65-0 run line record, meaning they cover 55% of the time. The Royals are 77-67-0 against the run line and have a 65-71-8 over/under record. They cover the spread 54% of the time.

The Athletics head into this game with a 62-82 record, and they are 29-40 on the road. Starting pitcher Daniel Mengden has a 1-7 record with an ERA of 6.39 and a WHIP of 1.69. He has 57 strikeouts during his 56.1 innings pitched and he has given up 65 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 10.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.54. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 3.98 and they have allowed 462 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .241 against the pen while they've been struck out 475 times and walked 170 times this year. As a unit, Oakland has given up 9.26 base hits per nine innings while striking out 7.46 hitters per nine. They are 25th in the Majors in team earned run average at 4.57. The Athletics pitchers have collectively given up 1,312 base hits and 647 earned runs. They have allowed 165 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Oakland as a pitching staff has walked 425 batters and struck out 1,057. They walk 3 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.36 and their FIP as a unit is 4.27.

As a team, Oakland is hitting .246, good for 24th in the league while putting together a .254 average on the road. The Athletics have a .393 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .303 which is good for 28th in the league. They rank 25th in baseball with 8.35 hits per contest. Danny Valencia comes into this game hitting .288 and his on-base percentage is at .344. He has 120 hits this season along with 62 runs scored and 48 runs batted in. He's struck out 102 times and has walked 33 times. Khris Davis is hitting .247 and he has an on-base percentage of .297. He has totaled 124 hits so far while scoring 76 runs and he's driven in 90. He has walked 30 times and has struck out 150 times. The Athletics have 1,202 hits, including 231 doubles and 149 home runs. They've stolen 47 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 20 times. Oakland has walked 377 times this season and they've struck out 1,003 times as a unit. They've left 920 men on base and have a team OPS of .696. They score 3.97 runs per contest and have scored a total of 571 runs so far this year.

Kansas City comes into this game with a 42-27 home mark and a 74-70 overall record. With an ERA of 5.09, Edinson Volquez has a 10-10 record and a 1.49 WHIP. He has 125 strikeouts over the 171.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 195 hits. He has allowed 10.2 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.37. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.33 and they have given up 432 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .240 against the Royals bullpen while being struck out 449 times and walking 160 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.8 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.05 batters per nine. They are 14th in the league in team earned run average at 4.11. The Royals pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,251 base knocks and 584 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 185 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 443 hitters and struck out 1,145. They give up a walk 3.1 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.1 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.32 while their FIP as a staff is 4.39.

As a team, they are batting .262, good for 9th in the league while putting together a .275 average at home. The Royals hold a .400 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .314 which is good for 24th in baseball. They rank 8th in baseball with 8.99 hits per contest. Alcides Escobar comes into this matchup batting .270 and he has an OBP of .302. He has 156 hits this year along with 53 runs scored and 49 RBI. He's struck out 83 times and has walked on 26 occasions. Eric Hosmer is hitting .273 and he has an OBP of .337. He has collected 149 hits so far while he's scored 75 runs and drove in 91. He has earned a walk 54 times and has punched out 118 times. The Royals as a unit have 1,293 base hits, including 237 doubles and 131 homers. They have 105 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 30 times. Kansas City as a team has walked 350 times this year and they have struck out 1,078 times. They've had 951 men left on base and have an OPS of .713. They score 4.13 runs per game and have totaled 595 runs so far this season.

Oakland Athletics Betting Trends

The Oakland Athletics are 64-75-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Oakland Athletics are 79-65-0 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 65-71-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 77-67-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Oakland Athletics

09/14/16 P Sean Manaea Back is upgraded to expected to start Wednesday vs. Kansas City Royals
09/08/16 RF Andrew Lambo Lower Body 60-day DL (7/4)
08/17/16 CF Tyler Ladendorf Wrist 15-day DL (8/17)
08/16/16 2B Jed Lowrie Foot 60-day DL (8/4); out for season
08/07/16 P Sonny Gray Elbow 15-day DL (8/7)
08/07/16 P Henderson Alvarez Shoulder 60-day DL (4/6), out for season
07/23/16 P Fernando Rodriguez Shoulder 60-day DL (7/4)
07/03/16 C Josh Phegley Knee 60-day DL (7/2)
05/11/16 P Chris Bassitt Elbow 60-day DL (4/28); out for season
05/11/16 LF Mark Canha Back 60-day DL (5/9), out for season
04/05/16 P Frankie Montas Ribs 60-day DL (2/20)
04/05/16 P Felix Doubront Elbow 60-day DL (4/4); out for season
04/03/16 2B Eric Sogard Knee 60-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 CF Sam Fuld Shoulder 60-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Jarrod Parker Elbow 60-day DL (3/13), out for season
03/31/16 P R.J. Alvarez Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Kansas City Royals

09/11/16 CF Lorenzo Cain Wrist out indefinitely
08/31/16 P Chien-Ming Wang Bicep 15-day DL (8/31)
08/31/16 P Edinson Volquez Finger "?" for next scheduled start
07/29/16 P Luke Hochevar Shoulder 60-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)

Josh's Pick: Take the Royals

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