Kansas City (75-59) at Houston (71-62)
- When: Aug 29 2024, 8:10 PM
- Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston
- Where to watch: SCHN
Game Odds, Spread, Moneyline & Total
Kansas City Royals @ Houston Astros
Moneyline
Kansas City Royals +131
Houston Astros -157
Kansas City Royals @ Houston Astros
Runline
Kansas City Royals 1.5 (-160)
Houston Astros -1.5 (+135)
Kansas City Royals @ Houston Astros
Total
Over 8.0 (-115)
Under 8.0 (-105)
- Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
Probable Pitchers:
Kansas City: Brady Singer (9-9, 3.38)
Houston: Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.72)
Team Stats
| Royals | Astros | |
| 75-59 | Record | 71-62 |
| 34-31 | Away & Home | 36-33 |
| 6-4 | Last 10 | 4-6 |
| L1 | Streak | W1 |
Game Preview
The Kansas City Royals, having briefly held a share of first place in the American League Central, will aim to regain their footing as they start a four-game series on the road against the Houston Astros on Thursday.
Kansas City recently secured the first three games of a series against Cleveland, only to relinquish a three-run lead in a 7-5 defeat on Wednesday. This loss handed the Guardians sole possession of first place again. Despite the setback, the Royals’ significant climb from 10 games back on June 25 to nearly leading the division demonstrates their resilience.
Reflecting on the series with Cleveland, Royals manager Matt Quatraro remained optimistic, stating, "It’s always tough not to sweep when you start strong, but we shouldn’t let this overshadow our achievements. This race isn’t over, and we need to be ready to compete in Houston."
Brady Singer (9-9, 3.38 ERA) will take the mound for Kansas City, looking to bounce back from an 11-2 loss to Philadelphia where he gave up five runs and a season-high 11 hits. Singer has a mixed record of 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA against the Astros but did notch a win against them earlier this season.
Opposing him will be Houston’s Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.72 ERA), who has been solid lately, allowing two or fewer earned runs in 12 of his last 14 starts. However, Brown has struggled mightily in past outings against the Royals, including a disastrous start on April 11 where he gave up nine runs in less than an inning.
Houston comes into the series after finishing a tough road trip with a 3-4 record, highlighted by a 10-0 victory over Philadelphia. In that game, Houston tied their season-high with 18 hits, and Spencer Arrighetti carried a no-hitter into the late innings. Astros manager Joe Espada took the opportunity to rest key players, emphasizing the long-term goal of winning the division and the importance of keeping his team fresh during a grueling schedule of 18 games in 18 days.
Espada stressed the balance between achieving milestones like no-hitters and maintaining player health for the season’s challenges, noting, "While I’m aware of the no-hitter, we have broader objectives, like clinching our division. It’s crucial we manage our lineup to keep everyone in optimal shape for what lies ahead."
MLB Parlay Picks & Predictions
Final Score: Houston 5-4
Expert Pick: Houston -157 & Over 8 (-115)
A $100 Parlay Bet will return $306
- MLB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
