Monday, May 2, 2016

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Gio Gonzalez vs. Edinson Volquez

The Washington Nationals visit Kauffman Stadium on Monday to play the Kansas City Royals. The probable starters are Gio Gonzalez for the Nationals and Edinson Volquez for the Royals. The Nationals have a 8-12-3 over/under record and a 12-11-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Royals are 12-11-0 against the run line and have a 5-16-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 52% of the time.

The Nationals head into this matchup with a 16-7 record, including 8-3 on the road. Starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez has a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 1.42 and a WHIP of 0.99. He has 25 strikeouts over his 25.1 innings pitched and he has given up 18 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 2.42. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.53 and they have given up 50 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .205 against the bullpen while being struck out 66 times and walking 20 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 6.91 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.63 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.36. The Nationals pitchers have collectively given up 164 base hits and 56 earned runs. They have allowed 14 home runs this season and they allow 0.6 homers per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a pitching staff has walked 67 batters and struck out 205. They walk 2.8 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.6 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.08 and their FIP as a unit is 2.98.

As a team, Washington is batting .230, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .231 average away from home. The Nationals hold a .384 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .230 which is good for 26th in baseball. They rank 23rd in baseball with 7.7 hits per game. Bryce Harper comes into this game hitting .286 and his on-base percentage is at .406. He has 22 hits this season along with 16 runs scored and 24 runs batted in. He's struck out 13 times and has walked 17 times. Yunel Escobar is hitting .281 and he has an on-base percentage of .349. He has totaled 27 hits so far while scoring 10 runs and he's driven in 7. He has walked 8 times and has struck out 10 times. The Nationals have 177 hits, including 34 doubles and 26 home runs. They've stolen 12 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 4 times. Washington has walked 81 times this season and they've struck out 184 times as a unit. They've left 153 men on base and have a team OPS of .692. They score 4.04 runs per contest and have scored a total of 93 runs so far this year.

Kansas City comes into this matchup with a 8-3 home record and a 12-11 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.34, Edinson Volquez has a 3-1 record and a 1.35 WHIP. He has 25 strikeouts over the 29.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 30 hits. He has allowed 9.1 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.26. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.50 and they have given up 57 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .216 against the Royals bullpen while being struck out 75 times and walking 30 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 7.7 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.41 batters per nine. They are 7th in the league in team earned run average at 3.56. The Royals pitchers as a team have surrendered 170 base knocks and 78 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 22 home runs this year and they give up 1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a staff has walked 95 hitters and struck out 187. They give up a walk 4.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.4 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.33 while their FIP as a staff is 4.17.

As a team, they are batting .252, good for 13th in the league while putting together a .261 average at home. The Royals hold a .390 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .252 which is good for 13th in baseball. They rank 13th in baseball with 8.39 hits per contest. Eric Hosmer comes into this matchup batting .326 and he has an OBP of .368. He has 29 hits this year along with 10 runs scored and 8 RBI. He's struck out 14 times and has walked on 6 occasions. Mike Moustakas is hitting .273 and he has an OBP of .333. He has collected 24 hits so far while he's scored 11 runs and drove in 11. He has earned a walk 8 times and has punched out 8 times. The Royals as a unit have 193 base hits, including 38 doubles and 20 homers. They have 18 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 4 times. Kansas City as a team has walked 60 times this year and they have struck out 156 times. They've had 159 men left on base and have an OPS of .696. They score 3.35 runs per game and have totaled 77 runs so far this season.

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 8-12-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 12-11-0 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 5-16-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 12-11-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Washington Nationals

04/28/16 P Matt Belisle Calf 15-day DL (4/27)
04/07/16 LF Ben Revere Oblique 15-day DL (4/5)
03/31/16 P Aaron Barrett Elbow 60-day DL (4/1)

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)

Josh's Pick: Take the Royals

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