Kansas City (17-16) at Baltimore (19-18)
- When: May 3 2025, 7:15 PM
- Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore
- Where to watch: FOX
MLB Betting Preview Expert Predictions: Royals vs. Orioles
Moneyline: Orioles -114 | Total: 9.0
Baltimore Orioles – Ready to Heat Up at Home
The Orioles enter Game 2 of the series as narrow -114 favorites, looking to build off Friday’s 3-0 shutout win. Ryan O’Hearn continues to play with an edge, especially against his former team, launching a two-run homer in the seventh to seal the opener. His clutch bat and determined approach have made him a reliable source of power in the middle of the order, and manager Brandon Hyde expects his momentum to carry forward.
Baltimore will send right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (3-1, 3.00 ERA) to the mound. Sugano has already beaten Kansas City once this season, allowing just one run over 5 1/3 innings in that start. The Orioles are also seeing improvements in the bullpen, with closer Felix Bautista delivering a perfect ninth on Friday and showing increasing velocity.
With the lineup starting to show signs of life and a trusted arm on the mound, the Orioles are positioned to stay in control of this series.
Player Prop Pick: Ryan O’Hearn Over 1.5 Total Bases – Hot bat and revenge angle make it a solid value.
Kansas City Royals – Offense Sputtering, Pressure Mounting
After a strong stretch, Kansas City hit a wall Friday night, managing just four hits in the shutout loss. Bobby Witt Jr.’s impressive 22-game hitting streak came to an end, and the offense continued its season-long struggle averaging just 3.2 runs per game, the lowest in the league. The Royals could also be without their captain, Salvador Perez, again as he deals with a sore hip.
On the mound, left-hander Kris Bubic (2-2, 2.25 ERA) gets the start. While his last outing was rocky, giving up four runs to Houston, Bubic has been otherwise solid this season. He has also handled the Orioles well historically, including a strong 6.2-inning performance against them earlier this month, allowing only one unearned run.
Still, with the offense trending cold and the bullpen taxed, Kansas City will need near-perfection from Bubic to keep this one close.
Player Prop Pick: Bobby Witt Jr. to Record a Hit – Look for a bounce-back game from the Royals’ star shortstop.
Final Betting Prediction
Baltimore has the edge in recent form, starting pitching, and bullpen reliability. Kansas City’s offensive inconsistency is a real concern, especially with uncertainty around key players like Perez. Expect the Orioles to keep the pressure on in front of the home crowd.
Best Bet: Orioles Moneyline (-114)
Total Lean: Under 9.0 (-115) – Given Kansas City’s scoring woes and two capable starting pitchers, runs may be limited again.
Prediction: Orioles win 5-2
- MLB Odds source: MyBookie Sportsbook
