Kansas City is still the best bet in the American League even though they gave Thursday’s series opener away and lost to the Angels for the first time in eight games. Los Angeles broke its nine-game road losing streak with that win and is staring at another L with Royals new ace Johnny Cueto on the bump.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Angels ended their nine-game road losing streak in the most improbable way, storming back for six runs over the final two innings against two of the best relievers in baseball for a 7-6 win over the Royals Thursday in the series opener. Los Angeles totaled 19 runs during its slide before getting to Wade Davis for two runs in the eighth and four more off Greg Holland in the ninth. Thursday’s win was just the sixth in the last 20 games for the Halos, who moved to 24-31 on the road down 6.97 units on the moneyline. Owners of the best record in the American League and holders of the largest lead in any division, the Royals might be getting complacent with two straight losses in alarming fashion. KC remains the AL’s top money maker for bettors in the black 19.89 units overall and 14.78 at home.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Matt Shoemaker (5-8, 4.36 ERA) matched his earned runs allowed from his previous seven starts when he was shelled in Chicago on Monday. He gave up three home runs and seven earned in 5.2 innings of an 8-2 loss, snapping his 19 inning scoreless streak. He’s been doomed by the long ball this season, surrendering 20 in 115.2 innings after allowing 14 in 136 innings last year.
In his only appearance at Kauffman Stadium, Shoemaker was charged with eight runs in four innings in an 8-6 loss on June 27, 2014.
Johnny Cueto (8-7, 2.53 ERA) is coming off his home debut with the Royals and his first win when he pitched brilliantly in a four-hit shutout of the Tigers on Monday. He fanned eight with no walks in the 116-pitch gem. The Royals have gotten exactly what they expected from Cueto since the trade. He’s posted a 2.05 ERA in his three starts and has gotten better each time out; though it will be tough to surpass his last outing.
Cueto makes his second career start against the Angels and first since April 1, 2013.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“It stinks. It stinks to see it two nights in a row, especially from a group of guys that have done well all year. I think it’s something that, if anything, we’ll take f
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
It’s natural to look at Kansas City’s dominant bullpen after two straight losses and wonder what could possibly be wrong. The Royals had gone 111 straight games without losing when leading after seven innings until Wednesday’s 7-4 loss to the Tigers. They had gone 126 games without a loss when leading after eight until Thursday. That’s when Wade Davis surrendered two runs in the eighth and closer Greg Holland gave up four in the ninth in a 7-6 loss to the Angels in the series opener. It’s not a question of the pen being overused, rather the opposite. Holland hadn’t thrown since Saturday and Davis hadn’t pitched in a week. Manager Ned Yost still has faith in Holland, who is now 25 of 29 in save opportunities. “He’s human. He’s not a robot. It happens. Not very often, but it happens,” Yost said of the meltdown.
PROP TALK
Several Royals have had a good amount of success against Matt Shoemaker during their career and it’s a good bet one of them can get to the Angels righty. Ben Zobrist has the most hits of any current KC player off Shoemaker going 6 for 9 in his career with three doubles, a home run and three RBIs. Lorenzo Cain and Sal Perez are both 4 for 6 with Cain tossing in a double and triple among his hits. Alcides Escobar is 3 for 4 with a double and three stolen bases. As you can tell, Shoemaker has been hit hard by the Royals giving up 19 hits in nine innings with a .422 opponent’s batting average in two starts.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Royals remain the best team in the AL though it must be difficult to not step back and breathe a heavy sigh after building a huge lead in the AL Central. The Angels meanwhile are scrambling to keep hold of the second wild card while still chasing down the Astros for first place in the AL West. The Halos have a tough chore facing Johnny Cueto, who tossed a shutout in his Royals home debut last week. Now that Albert Pujols has cooled off from his torrid pace before the All-Star break, Cueto has a great shot at silencing the LA bats.
Kansas City 4, Los Angeles 2
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