This is kind of an odd matchup to have on ESPN, but it had to be later at night with Game 2 of the women’s College World Series on ahead of it. Who takes the series finale between the Royals and Angels?
Kansas City Royals vs. Los Angeles Angels
Wednesday, June 9, 9:38 PM EDT, 2021, at Angel Stadium
The team from Anaheim gave a heavenly performance in the opener, ruining a K.C.’s rookie pitcher’s debut, making him feel like he visited – The Haunted Mansion – from nearby Disneyland. The middle game went to the Angels again in a rout 8-1. This sets up the series finale with Halos going for the sweep.
GTbets (visit our GTbets Review) and other online sport betting sites have the club from Anaheim as -141 home favorites according to their betting MLB odds. Do they have it right?
Royals Have to Hit Better on the Road
There is nothing wrong with Kansas City’s 13-15 road record. They are an average squad that has played beyond early expectations. Nonetheless, things could end up in disarray if manager Mike Metheny’s club doesn’t start swinging the lumber with greater authority and having his players stepping or sliding on home plate with more regularity.
The Royals (29-30, +1.1 units) are averaging 3.7 runs per game on the road. While Salvador Perez, Andrew Benintendi and Whit Merrifield have done what is needed, there are others who are not.
Specifically, Carlos Santana, Jorge Solar, Michael Taylor and whoever starts at third base are spilling the water, not carrying it to benefit the offense. This contingent is hitting around .210 as a group, with little power and not taking enough pitches to get on base via a walk.
The pitching away from “The K” (Kauffman Stadium for non-Royals fans) is Top 10 in runs allowed, now it’s time for the offense to step up.
Angels Offense Has to Carry This Club to Win
Coming into 2021, the prospects of a winning season were more for those drinking the red Kool-Aid, even if most sportsbooks had the Angels at 83.5. The offense had a chance to be very good led by Mike Trout. The pitching remained a question mark, but with Shohei Ohtani possibly healthy enough to supply offense and pitching for a full season, optimism was overflowing in Anaheim.
Those questions about the pitching staff have almost nightly turned into three-alarm fires. Joe Maddon’s hurlers make many Halos fans want to hurl (a nod to Wayne and Garth), listed 25th in ERA for starters and relievers.
With no Trout for the foreseeable future, others have to hit. Though 4.7 RPG is above average, when you concede 5.2 RPG, putting five runs on the scoreboard a contest becomes a starting point. Ohtani has supplied power and driven in runs, as has Jered Walsh. Justin Upton at 33 has been on the downside of his career for a while and will hit a few bombs over a collection of games and bat .220.
For the Halos to improve. Anthony Rendon has to get hot and others like Jose Iglesias, David Fletcher and Taylor Ward have to get on base and take turns runs driving each other in.
Pitching Breakdown
Tonight’s K.C. starting pitcher Brad Keller burst on to the scene in 2018 and was 9-5 with a 3.18. A sophomore slump followed, however, last year seemed to signal better days ahead with a 2.47 ERA and a WHIP of 1.03 in nine starts.
Despite a 6-4 record, the ERA is 5.50 and the WHIP is unsavory at 1.71. Kellar is not overpowering and when he lacks command, he’s hittable and wild. The right-hander is on pace for career free passes and he’s allowing 1.25 hits an inning. His last three outings have shown improvement (3.18 ERA) and his team will need him tonight.
Griffin Canning is exactly what’s wrong with the Angels pitching. Canning (3-4) has a 5.82 ERA, permits a hit an inning and only two of nine starts (plus one relief appearance) have not seen a ball disappear over the fence, allowing 11 homers in 43 innings. His ERA at home is a laughable 6.83.
Game Prediction
For MLB picks, Kansas City has lost four in a row and tallied a grand total of nine runs. Not good. The Angels offense on the other hand is averaging 6.6 RPG in their last seven outings, winning five times.
Our research uncovers that road teams like the Royals in this money line area, avenging a loss where they scored one run or less, a marginal losing team (46% to 49% win percentage), playing a losing team, are just 9-27 in their next game. Grab the Angels.
MLB Picks: Angels -141 ML at GTbets
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
