Kansas City Royals @ Houston Astros

Houston Astros -350

Games Total: 8

Game Play Predictions

Houston Astros

  • The Astros are huge favorites in this game, thanks in part to facing one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball this season. Only three qualified pitchers have been worse than Ian Kennedy ’s 5.31 ERA. Kennedy has the 14th worst HR/9 in baseball.
  • José Altuve leads all of baseball with a .346 batting average and he is sixth with a .402 OBP.
  • Altuve has the 14th lowest strikeout rate in baseball at 12.8 percent. Yulieski Gurriel ranks eighth at 10.9 percent.
  • Altuve has been on fire of late, going 9-for-18 with 18 total bases, including five walks and one strikeout over the last seven days.
  • Only five teams have a lower strikeout percentage than the Astros 20.6 percent.
  • Brian McCann is 8-for-24 with three home runs against Ian Kennedy .
  • George Springer is sixth in MLB with 56 runs scored, while José Altuve ranks 17th. Springer also leads the Astros with 15 home runs.
  • Alex Bregman is one of seven qualified hitters with more walks than strikeouts this season.

Kansas City Royals

  • This should be a battle of strengths between the Royals hitters and Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. McCullers has 9.17 K/9 this season and 3.46 BB/9.
  • The Royals have the lowest strikeout rate in baseball at 19.2 percent.
  • Mike Moustakas is 5-for-14 with a homer against Lance McCullers .
  • Salvador Pérez is 5-for-12 with three home runs against McCullers.
  • Alex Gordon is 6-for-17 with six walks and two strikeouts over the last week. Unfortunately, none of his teammates are hitting right now.
  • The Royals have scored just 13 runs over the last seven days, tied with the Rays and Padres for fewest in MLB over that span.