Another enticing matchup in the MLB is headed your way this Thursday night, as the Los Angeles Angels (59-53) and the Kansas City Royals (68-45) collide for the first meeting of their three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. The Angels will look to put an end to their losing woes especially on the road, where they’ve lost their last nine. The Royals, meanwhile, are coming off a rare loss and will definitely be seeking to put themselves back on the winning track.
Which team will draw first blood in this series? Read on below for a detailed breakdown of this American League clash and while you’re at it, click here to see our other preview between the Pirates and Cardinals.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Los Angeles Angels vs. Kansas City Royals Preview
Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MI
When: Thursday, August 13, 8:10 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Angels (-116) vs. Kansas City Royals (+106); total: 8.0 —View all MLB Lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Angels
The struggle has been very real for the Los Angeles Angels, who have lost four of their last five games. The Angels will be trying to move on from a three-game sweep by the White Sox when they go on another road trip to open up a new series with the mighty Kansas City Royals later on tonight.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Getting the start for the Angels is Garrett Richards, who is 11-9 with a 3.59 ERA on the season. Richards is coming off a 5-0 loss to Batimore on Saturday, where he yielded three earned runs on seven hits in six innings of work. Before this game though, the 27-year-old righty delivered a season-high of 11 strikeouts in a close 5-4 triumph over the Indians on August 3. Against the Royals, he is 0-1 with a 4.19 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in eight career games (two starts).
On offense, the Angels will boast their best hitter Mike Trout (.301) to lead the way for them. Trout has gone cold this month, hitting .154 at the plate. However, there’s no telling if that’ll be the same case this evening, as the All-Star MVP is batting .383 versus the Royals and is 6-for-16 with four RBIs off Jeremy Guthrie.
Also, Kole Calhoune (.271) could be in for an offensive outburst tonight. Calhoune is 4-for-7 with two homers and four RBIs in the same matchup.
Los Angeles is 3-5 in Richards’ last eight road starts.
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Betting on the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals’ five-game winning streak was snapped last night after a sorry 7-4 loss to the Tigers. Despite this, the Royals still have a plenty of reasons to smile about, as they’ve won five of their previous six outings and continue to sit comfortably on top of the AL Central. They’ll look to get back on track when they send Jeremy Guthrie (8-7, 5.84 ERA) on the mound for their series opener against the Los Angeles Angels this evening.
Guthrie will attempt to keep the balls in the park this time around, as he’s given up six home runs in his last three turns. That stretch includes his most recent start on August 8 against the White Sox, during which he was rocked for six earned runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 frames. Guthrie managed to pick up the 7-6 win, but that was thanks to his teammates who were able provide him enough run support. Across 14 games (13 starts) versus the Angels, he is 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA.
If Guthrie’s inefficiencies continue tonight, Kansas City’s offense—that averages 4.34 runs per game this year—will have to pick up the slack to avoid another loss.
The pair of Lorenzo Cain and Ben Zobrist is most definitely the Royals’ biggest threat at the plate. Cain boasts a team-high .316 batting average and is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, where he’s 11-for-24 with four doubles and five RBIs to his name. Zobrist, meanwhile, has gone hitless in seven at-bats over his previous two but he is 4-for-9 lifetime versus the Angels’ starter Garrett Richards.
Kansas City is 5-2 in Guthrie’s last seven turns.
Writer’s Prediction:
The Royals (+106) win, 7-4.
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