The Boston Red Sox conclude a series in Kansas City on Thursday afternoon, and the Red Sox will be favored on the MLB odds even though they will be going with a spot starter with the rotation a bit in flux. The Kansas City Royals go with left-hander Danny Duffy.
How to Bet on Red Sox vs Royals MLB Spread & Game Prediction
- When: Thursday, 1:15 PM ET
- Where: Kauffman Stadium
- Probable pitchers (away/home): TBA/Danny Duffy
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: Boston / Kansas City
- Opening MLB Lines: TBA
Why Bet on Boston?
The Red Sox have not lost 5+ consecutive games since 2015, when they went 0-8 from 7/12-23. Since that losing streak ended, every other team in MLB has lost 5+ straight games at least once, while the Sox have played 613 games without a skid of longer than 4 games.
The Red Sox swept their 3-game series at Kauffman Stadium in 2018, winning by scores of 10-5, 15-4, and 7-4. The Sox posted a batting line of .388/.475/.586 in those games, with more walks (22) than strikeouts (17). Among active players, Xander Bogaerts (.390) and Mookie Betts (.371) own the 2nd- and 3rd-highest AVGs at Kauffman Stadium (min. 50 AB) behind only Matt Carpenter (.403). Bogaerts (1.099) and Betts (1.073) also rank 3rd and 5th among that group in OPS.
The Sox remain without first baseman Mitch Moreland. He was eligible to be activated off the injured list on Wednesday, but the Red Sox are expected to wait until they return home from Kansas City on Friday to make the move. Moreland has been hitting off a tee back in Boston without any issues. He landed on the injured list May 29, retroactive to May 26, with a lower back strain.
Not clear as of this writing who will start for Boston as the team has reconfigured their rotation for the week with an eye on Saturday’s doubleheader against the Rays. Could be an “opener” or just a bullpen day. The Sox are down one starting pitcher in Nathan Eovaldi. He threw a two-inning, 36-pitch simulated game on Tuesday. The right-hander has been on the injured list since April 20 following surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow.
It’s likely to be either Ryan Weber getting another shot or giving Mike Shawaryn his first career start. Weber got knocked around for seven runs in four innings and took a loss to the Indians last Wednesday. He allowed eight hits, two walks and a hit batsman in the brief outing. Carlos Santana became his biggest nemesis by tripling in a run in the first inning and smacking a solo dong in the fourth. The 28-year-old right-hander was making his second spot start but is normally a reliever. He fell to 1-1 on the season with a 4.50 ERA.
Shawaryn was called up late last week and has not yet made his major-league debut. Shawaryn was drafted by the Red Sox in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft and made 10 starts for the Triple-A PawSox this year, going 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA.
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Runs: 5.43
- Hits: 9.10
- Walks: 4.00
- Strike Outs: 8.21
Defense:
- Runs: 4.70
- Hits: 8.00
- Walks: 3.23
- Strike Outs: 9.75
Why Bet on Kansas City?
The Royals lost breakout star third baseman Hunter Dozier to the injured list this week. Dozier will be eligible for activation on June 10 — next Monday — and the hope is that he’s going to be ready on that date. The 27-year-old pulled a muscle in his chest last Thursday and needs more time for rest and treatment. Cheslor Cuthbert will continue to fill in at third base for Kansas City until Dozier returns. Dozier was slashing .314/.398/.589 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI in 52 games.
The Royals have held a lead in 42 of 61 games, but they’ve won just 19 of those games (45.2%) and have lost a Majors-high 23 games in which they’ve led. They’ve been outscored 150-99 (-51) in the sixth inning or later this season (they’re just -8 in innings 1-5), including 53-32 (-21) in the sixth inning alone.
Adalberto Mondesi leads the majors with 22 steals and is now on pace for 59 steals, which would match Willie Wilson in 1983 and 1987 for fourth most in Royals history, trailing only Wilson’s 83 steals in 1979, 79 steals in 1980 and Tom Goodwin’s 66 steals in 1996. In 134 games since his 2018 debut (June 17), Mondesi’s 54 steals are most in the Majors, 12 more than Mallex Smith, whose 42 steals in that time are second. Mondesi also leads the Majors with eight triples, which are as many or more than 19 big league clubs’ season total.
Danny Duffy (3-2) surrendered six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over 5.1 innings in a loss to Texas on Friday. Duffy cruised through the first five innings of his outing before hitting a wall in the sixth, giving up six runs on four hits. The left-hander hadn’t given up more than four runs in a start heading into Friday’s appearance. He left the game after allowing a grand slam to Joey Gallo. Duffy owns a 4.05 ERA with 33 strikeouts over 40 innings this season.
Just a couple of years ago it appeared Duffy was emerging as one of the better starting pitchers in the American League, coming on strong in the rotation in the second half in 2016 before continuing that success through the 2017 season. He hasn’t been the same since, partly due to injuries. Last year the Red Sox smacked 10 hits and scored five runs off Duffy over 6 2⁄3 innings.
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Runs: 4.25
- Hits: 8.21
- Walks: 3.00
- Strike Outs: 8.72
Defense:
- Runs: 5.34
- Hits: 9.15
- Walks: 3.80
- Strike Outs: 7.80
Red Sox vs Royals MLB Betting Trends
- Red Sox are 3-7 in their last 10 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Royals are 5-11 in Duffy’s last 16 home starts.
- Royals are 4-10 in Duffy’s last 14 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Royals are 6-15 in Duffy’s last 21 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Royals are 2-6 in Duffy’s last 8 starts vs. American League East.
Expert MLB Prediction for Red Sox vs Royals
Red Sox 5, Royals 3
