Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros Prediction, 9/1/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Kansas City Royals vs Houston Astros

Date: Sunday, September 1, 2024

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: Bally Sports Kansas City

The Kansas City Royals (75-60) are en route to Minute Maid Park on Sunday where they will go up against the Houston Astros (72-62). The expected starting pitchers will be Alec Marsh and Ronel Blanco.

Kansas City has a slugging rate of .424 and have been rung up 918 times, while taking a walk on 352 occasions. They have accounted for 639 RBI's as well as 1,169 hits on the season, and their batting average comes in at .257. The Royals have tallied 236 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 153 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accumulated 657 runs scored and have an on-base percentage of .313. As a unit, the Kansas City Royals are putting up 4.9 runs per game, which has them at 5th in the league.

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The Royals have a team earned run average of 3.90 on the year (11th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 1,081 batters. Royals pitchers have yielded 125 home runs and also 555 total runs (9th in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 398 hitters and their FIP is 3.87 as a unit over the course of the season. Kansas City has allowed 1,114 hits (8.4 per 9 innings) in addition to 515 earned runs. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.72 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.27.

Royals bullpen pitchers have entered the game with runners on 109 times in addition to having 125 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have tallied 65 holds so far this season (18th in the league). The Royals bullpen have a save percentage of 61.8% and has entered the game in 122 save situations. They have compiled 34 saves this season and have blown 21 out of their 55 chances to save the game. The relief pitchers have inherited 193 base runners on the campaign and 28.5% of them ended up crossing the plate. The Royals have sent 419 relief pitchers to the mound on the season.

The Royals have converted 69.3% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 10,689 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 20th in the majors. The Kansas City Royals have earned 3,563 putouts so far this season, as well as 1,210 assists and 70 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .986 which has them sitting 13th in professional baseball, and they have turned 107 double plays.

Marsh (10-16 career mark) holds a FIP of 5.02 while he has faced 788 opposing batters in the major leagues. He has surrendered 177 hits (8.8 hits per 9 innings) with 72 free passes. His earned run average is 5.10 (102 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.383. Marsh has taken the ball for 180 innings and has totaled 180 strikeouts so far in his MLB career.

The Houston Astros have compiled an OBP of .321 as well as a team batting average of .261 so far this year. They have been called out on strikes on 973 occasions (28th in MLB) and have tallied 1,200 base knocks. Houston is sitting with 160 HRs so far this season and 585 RBIs. The Astros have a team slugging percentage of .418 and they are recording 4.57 runs per game (12th in MLB). They have 215 two-baggers, while taking a walk 364 times and recording 613 runs.

The Astros have a team WHIP of 1.245 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.07 as a squad on the campaign. They are currently ranked 2nd in the league as a staff in total hits allowed with 1,009. The Houston pitching staff have given up 533 runs on the campaign and come in with a team ERA of 3.74 (495 earned runs allowed). Their K/BB ratio is 9.30 (1,225 strikeouts vs 472 walks). They have conceded 150 homers and they surrender 4.03 runs per 9 innings (4th in baseball).

With 132 save situations, the Astros have compiled 76 holds in addition to 21 blown saves. Houston has called on relief pitchers to enter the game in 55 save opportunities and they have tallied 34 saves. Their relievers have taken the field 126 times in high leverage situations and also on 80 occasions with runners on. Houston bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 28.3% out of their 120 inherited runners. They rank 18th in the league with a save rate of 61.8%, and they have sent 422 bullpen pitchers to the hill this season.

Out of their 10,710 innings played, the Astros hold a efficiency on defense of 70.9% (5th in pro baseball). The Houston Astros have turned 112 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .986 (11th in MLB). The Astros have accrued 1,081 assists, 67 errors and have accumulated 3,570 putouts so far this season.

So far in his pro baseball career, Blanco has surrendered 155 hits while he has accumulated 200 K's in 201 frames. He has conceded a total of 81 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.213 and having a FIP of 3.6. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.25 and he has faced 838 opposing hitters in his career. Blanco (11-7 career record) has earned a 3.62 ERA while surrendering 6.9 hits per 9 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston

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