After splitting their last three matchups against the Mariners, Giants and A’s, the Los Angeles Angels could find themselves in a position to break that streak at home on Wednesday night when they host the Kansas City Royals in the third and final game of the series. Though each likely isn’t going to catch the frontrunner of their respective divisions, both KC and Anaheim find themselves firmly in the mix of cashing in on the Wild Card odds at online sportsbooks. The Royals currently sit 3-games out and the Halos six with plenty of time still remaining in the 2021 MLB betting season. If the home team is to eat into that deficit, it’s going to need to get a rare quality start from Griffin Canning who’s only managed to procure a pair in his 10 prior. The Royals have won each of Brad Keller’s last three starts but the righty’s only gone five innings in the most recent pair. Should neither starter go deep, the visitors will own the advantage in the pen making them the more attractive side on paper.
First pitch for the game between the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at 9:30 p.m. ET from Angel Stadium. The matchup will air live on ESPN. Bet on MLB odds and player props at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
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Odds Analysis
After recently seeing their hot streak come to a close by allowing the Minnesota Twins to take the final two games of the weekend set, Kansas City enters this series up a single game over .500 and up around $260 for MLB bettors overall. As evidenced by the near .500 record, the Royals haven’t been great bets at home 16-15 or on the road 13-13. However, all of the team’s profit earned to date has come away from Kauffmann Stadium $268. As for Los Angeles, it’s been a shell of its former self with arguably the best player in the league on the shelf. Joe Maddon’s squad has compiled a 10-10 record ever since Mike Trout succumbed to a strained calf that will keep him out until at least the middle of July. It’s amounted to a 27-32 overall record that’s cost upwards of $500 overall. While a bulk of the deficit has been incurred on the road -$304, LA is still the owner of a sub .500 home record 15-16, -$193.
Probable Pitchers
Brad Keller: Since taking a loss or no-decision in five of his first seven starts, the right-hander stands unblemished in the loss department over his last five outings after notching four wins and a lone ND. Last time out, the lanky right-hander tossed five innings of 2 ER ball at the Twins while logging 5 K and issuing zero walks. After the offense granted him with nine first inning runs, it amounted to becoming one of the easiest outings of his four-year career. The velocity on his heater was there with it running in the 93/94 mph range, but his slider did very little. Anaheim owns a number of free swingers in its lineup, but it’s crushed right-handed pitching to the tune of a .250 batting average No. 5 and .726 OPS No. 10. This won’t be a walk in the park!
Griffin Canning: Canning has alternated decent and dreadful performances each of the last four times he took to the starting bump. Last time out, it was the latter after lasting just 3.1 innings and allowing 6 hits 1 HR and 4 ER while striking out five and walking a pair. His slide piece didn’t bite and his curveball was MIA, so it took away most of the effectiveness his change-up normally offers. Jack Fraley’s three-run shot in the top of the 4th inning took all the wind out of his and the team’s sails. Both would never recover. The blast marked the fourth straight start that the righty conceded at least one long ball. His 9.4 hits and 2.3 home runs per nine innings make you cringe, but that 10.4 K/9 gives you hope. However, the Royals own a 25.3 percent K rate against righties overall No. 6 and a 20.2 percent K rate over the last week No. 3.
Royals vs. Angels Prediction
Canning is simply just way too hit or miss for my taste. I streamed him for fantasy purposes last time out against the Mariners and he rewarded me with a negative return; the second in his last three. While Keller is nothing to ultimately get excited about, he’s been doing his job of late coming close to registering quality starts before handing it over to the pen. He’s 2-2 lifetime with a 2.66 ERA and .205 BAA through four career starts against the Halos. However, both of his Big A starts resulted in losses and early exits. That has me leaning ever so slightly towards backing Canning and hoping his every-other trend continues in this spot. And why not? Through two career starts against KC, he’s allowed only nine hits 1 HR and 2 ER with a K/BB ratio of 10:3. While I’m not running to the window to back either of these squads on the MLB odds, it would be the Angels that would get my money if forced to choose a side.
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