In a potential playoff preview, the Angels and Royals meet in the third game of a four game set on Saturday in Kansas City with the Royals still boasting the league’s best record at 68-45.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The AL’s best bet this year has a total moneyline of $2,089 compared to the Angels’ line of -$117 after a three game sweep by the White Sox dropped their record to 59-54.
The three straight losses to Chicago are bad, but it’s an issue that goes all the way back to July 23. Since then, the Angels are just 5-14, getting swept three times.
While offense has been an issue, pitching has also been a struggle when the team does manage to put runs on the board.
Playing on the road against the Royals provides an even bigger challenge as the Angels are 23-31 on the road while the Royals are 39-19 at home and have won five of their last six games.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Johnny Cueto gets his fourth start for the Royals after dominating in his home debut last time out, recording his first win while dealing a four-hit shutout against the Tigers on Monday. He struck out eight and didn’t give up a walk in the outing.
Since joining KC, Cueto has a 2.05 ERA and 0.909 WHIP in 22 innings, giving him a 2.53 ERA and 0.930 WHIP over the course of 152 2/3 innings this season.
The Royals’ starter is a true ace, but the Angels’ starter for Saturday had pitched like one, not allowing a single run in three straight games, until his last outing.
On Monday, Matt Shoemaker took the mound against the White Sox and surrendered seven runs on nine hits in five and two-thirds of an inning.
On the year, Shoemaker is 5-8 with a 4.36 ERA and 1.236 WHIP. He’s already allowed 20 home runs on the season while giving up just 14 in 20 additional innings last year.
QUOTE TO NOTE
In Cueto’s last start, the Royals got out to an early lead, but based on what teammate Alcides Escobar said after the game, his presence gives the team a ton of confidence.
“…when you get three runs like that right away and you have Johnny Cueto on the mound, it’s like 99 percent of the time you’re going to win.”
LIVE/SITUATIONAL BETTING
The offense had failed to support Cueto in his first two starts, but came up early and got him the lead on Monday.
The whole team was on fire early in the season with everyone not named Omar Infante hitting well. Some players have cooled since, but the team is still No.9 in runs scored and has plated at least four runs in each of their last five games.
The team doesn’t have a ton of pop nor are they going to out slug you, but they have a solid .269 team average and are adept at putting the bat on the ball. They also have good players up and down the lineup, particularly with the addition of Ben Zobrist.
The Angels have the best player in baseball in Mike Trout who is hitting .300 with a .993 OPS and 33 home runs along with Albert Pujols who adds 30 more home runs and a .824 OPS, but don’t have the Royals’ depth.
Pujols, however, has shown an inability to produce well with runners in scoring position and the team has lacked production at other spots in the order. Even the deadline additions have been lackluster.
The team has scored two runs or less in four of their last five games, getting shut out twice in that stretch.
PROP TALK
It’s a case of small sample sizes, but most Royals hitters have seen the ball well off of Shoemaker. Zobrist has the most at bats, going 6-for-9 with a home run. On top of that, Lorenzo Cain is 4-for-6 with two extra base hits while Escobar is 3-for-4 and Eric Hosmer is 3-for-6.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
In their limited head-to-head meetings, the Royals have hit Shoemaker well. Meanwhile, the Angels’ offense is scuffling and Cueto is on the bump for the Royals.
This should be an easy win for Kansas City as they’ve dominated at home and, should Cueto need help, the Royals have the league’s best bullpen with a 2.34 ERA.
Kansas City 5, Los Angeles 2
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