Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, 9/15/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals

Date: Friday, September 15, 2023

Location: Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO

TV: Bally Sports Kansas City

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-198) Kansas City (+164)

The Kansas City Royals (46-101) will go up against the Houston Astros (83-64) at Kauffman Stadium on Friday. The line on this matchup has the Astros at -198 and the Royals are opening at +164. The total comes in at 9.5. The starting pitchers are Cristian Javier and Zack Greinke.

As a unit, the Houston Astros are scoring 5.2 runs per game, which ranks them 5th in MLB. They have tallied 758 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .332. The Astros have accrued 251 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 201 baseballs out of the park. They have accrued 732 runs batted in and 1,311 base knocks so far this season, and their batting average is sitting at .260. Houston has a slugging rate of .435 and have been called out on strikes 1,122 times, while being walked on 501 occasions.

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They have a K/BB ratio of 2.74 and their pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.28. Astros pitchers have conceded 186 long balls and also 637 total runs (11th in baseball). Houston has given up 1,203 hits (8.2 per 9 innings) and 579 earned runs. The Astros hold a team earned run average of 3.97 for the year (10th in the league), and their staff has rung up 1,321 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 482 hitters and their FIP is 4.35 as a team on the season.

The Astros relief pitchers have earned a save percentage of 70.2% and has stepped onto the mound in 136 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 141 runners this season and 31.2% of those runners crossed home plate. Astros relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 87 times in addition to having 138 appearances in high leverage situations. The Astros have sent 463 relievers to the hill so far this season. The bullpen have recorded 78 holds this season (15th in baseball). They have compiled 40 saves this year and have blown 17 of 57 chances to save the game.

The Astros have turned 69.6% of baseballs in play into outs out of 11,820 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 10th in the majors. The Houston Astros are sitting with 3,940 putouts so far this season, as well as 1,231 assists and 71 errors. Their fielding rate is holding steady at .986 which has them ranked 12th in MLB, and they have twisted 133 double plays.

Javier (29-15 record in his career) has a FIP of 4.19 and he has faced 1,827 opposing hitters during his time in the major leagues. He has given up 321 base hits (6.5 hits per 9 innings) and has 177 free passes. His earned run average is 3.59 (178 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.117. Javier has taken the hill for 445 frames and is sitting with 510 K's so far in his pro baseball career.

Kansas City has accounted for 145 long balls on the year as well as 580 RBIs. They have recorded 239 two-baggers, while taking a walk 366 times as well as racking up 601 runs. The Kansas City Royals have an on-base percentage of .301 and a batting average of .242 so far this year. The Royals have a slugging percentage of .395 and they are scoring 4.09 runs per game (26th in the league). They have been rung up on 1,269 occasions (15th in baseball) and are sitting with 1,197 base knocks.

The Royals hold a team WHIP of 1.407 in addition to having a FIP of 4.71 as a squad this year. Their K/BB ratio is 8.10 (1,148 strikeouts vs 496 walks). They rank 26th in baseball as a staff in total hits surrendered with 1,301. They have given up 189 long balls and they yield 5.53 runs per 9 innings (28th in baseball). The Kansas City pitching staff have surrendered 785 runs this year while holding an ERA of 5.22 (740 earned runs yielded).

Kansas City has had relief pitchers enter the contest in 42 save opportunities and they have tallied 20 saves. They are ranked 30th in the league holding a save rate of 47.6%, and they have sent 476 bullpen pitchers onto the field for the year. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 119 times in high leverage situations and also on 105 occasions with runners on base. Kansas City relievers have an inherited score rate of 37.9% out of their 169 inherited base runners. Sitting with 97 save situations, the Royals have 55 holds and 22 blown saves.

The Kansas City Royals have turned 114 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .986 (14th in professional baseball). The Royals have 1,275 assists, 73 errors and have a tally of 3,831 putouts for the season. In their 11,493 innings on the diamond, the Royals have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 68.4% (23rd in MLB).

Greinke (224-156 career win-loss mark) has a 3.50 ERA and has given up 8.5 hits per 9 innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.91 and he has faced 13,816 opposing batters in his pro baseball career. He has allowed a total of 1,312 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.171 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.5. In his career, Greinke has surrendered 3,194 base hits while accumulating 2,966 K's in 3,373 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Kansas City (+164)

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