Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros Prediction, 9/22/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros

Date: Friday, September 22, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

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

Minute Maid Park is the location where the Houston Astros (85-68) will meet the Kansas City Royals (51-102) on Friday. The odds on this game have the Royals at +164 while the Astros are coming in at -198. The total is set at 9. The pitchers taking the mound are Cole Ragans and Framber Valdez.

As a unit, the Kansas City Royals are scoring 4.2 runs per outing, which is 26th in MLB. They have earned 635 runs scored while having a team OBP of .303. The Royals have compiled 250 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 152 balls out of the stadium. They have accounted for 611 RBI's in addition to 1,251 base knocks on the year, while their average at the plate sits at .244. Kansas City is slugging .397 and have been rung up 1,306 times, while being walked on 388 occasions.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.31 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.41. Royals pitchers have allowed 196 long balls in addition to 814 runs in total (28th in baseball). Kansas City has conceded 1,355 hits (9.2 per 9 innings) as well as 767 earned runs. The Royals have an earned run average of 5.19 for the year (28th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 1,198 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 518 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.70 as a team this season.

Royals bullpen pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 112 times and also have had 127 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have notched 60 holds for the season (28th in the league). The Royals relievers have recorded a save percentage of 51.1% and has entered the game in 107 save situations. They have compiled 24 saves for the year and have blown 23 of 47 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 183 base runners so far this season with 36.1% of those players crossed home plate. The Royals have dispatched 496 relievers to the mound for the year.

The Kansas City Royals are sitting with 3,993 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 1,321 assists and 77 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .986 which has them sitting 15th in the majors, and they have turned 120 double plays. The Royals have turned 68.3% of balls hit into play into outs in their 11,979 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 23rd in pro baseball.

Ragans has thrown 123 innings and has tallied 127 K's during his career. His earned run average is 3.86 (53 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.245. He has given up 105 hits (7.6 hits per nine innings) with 49 walks. Ragans (6-7 career mark) has a FIP of 3.66 while he has gone up against 514 opposing hitters in the majors.

Houston has accounted for 211 home runs this year to go along with 763 runs batted in. They have hit 263 doubles, while getting a free base 525 times and scoring 789 runs. The Houston Astros have a team on-base percentage of .332 and a batting average of .259 for the season. The Astros hold a team slugging % of .437 and they are scoring 5.16 runs per contest (5th in the league). They have been rung up on 1,170 instances (28th in the league) and have recorded 1,363 base hits.

The Astros have a team WHIP of 1.289 in addition to having a FIP of 4.36 as a team for the year. They currently have a strikeout to walk ratio of 9.00 (1,372 strikeouts vs 500 walks). They have a ranking of 15th in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 1,260. They have surrendered 195 homers and they surrender 4.42 runs per 9 innings (12th in MLB). The Houston pitching staff have yielded 670 runs so far this year while holding a team ERA of 4.00 (607 earned runs relinquished).

Houston has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 59 save chances and they have earned 40 saves. They are ranked 7th in the league holding a save rate of 67.8%, and they have dispatched 483 relievers to the hill this season. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 143 times in high leverage situations in addition to 91 occasions with runners on. Houston bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 31.5% of 149 inherited base runners. With 140 save situations, the Astros have 80 holds and also 19 blown saves.

Out of their 12,288 innings on the diamond, the Astros have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.5% (12th in the majors). The Houston Astros have turned 136 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .986 (13th in baseball). The Astros have accrued 1,272 assists, 75 errors and have earned 4,096 putouts for the season.

Valdez (53-33 career record) holds a 3.33 earned run average and has given up 7.6 hits per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.64 and he has gone up against 2,929 opposing batters in his career. He has allowed 260 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.209 and a FIP of 3.6. During his career, Valdez has conceded 592 hits while tallying 680 strikeouts in 703 innings pitched.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston (-198)

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