Kansas City Royals (8-6) +140, o/u 8 ½ at Los Angeles Angels (9-6), 10:05 pm Eastern Wednesday
by Zman of Predictem.com
Former divisional rivals hook up when the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels commence a quick two-game series Wednesday night at Angels Stadium.
Baseball Bookies list the Angels as home favorites of right around -155 for Wednesday's game, with an over/under of 8 ½.
KC lost at Seattle Tuesday 11-6, its fourth defeat in its last six games. So heading into Wednesday's action, the Royals sit in second place in the AL Central, a half-game behind the first-place Chicago White Sox.
Meanwhile, LA beat Texas Tuesday 7-4 for its third straight win. So going into Wednesday's game, the Angels, who lead the AL in scoring, are tied for first place in the AL West with the Oakland A's.
Last year, Kansas City took the season series from LA five games to two. The o/u went 2-5 in those seven games, which averaged a rather low 7.4 total runs per.
This season, KC is 5-3 on the road, while the Angels are just 3-3 at home.
Supposed staff ace Gil Meche (0-2, 7.13, 1.64 WHIP this season) is slated to take the mound for the Royals Wednesday night against Jered Weaver (1-2, 3.79, 1.11 WHIP) for LA.
Meche has had two straight rough outings, both vs. Minnesota, allowing 11 ER in his last 11 2/3 IP. KC is 1-2 in Meche's starts this season, the o/u 2-1.
Meche made two starts vs. the Angels last year, giving up five ER and 11 baserunners (hits + walks) in 13 IP. And the Royals won both those games.
In his most recent outing, Weaver gave up five ER on eight baserunners, including four walks, in 5 2/3 innings in an 8-5 loss at Seattle last Friday. Los Angeles is 1-2 in Weaver's starts this year, the o/u 1-2.
Weaver made two starts vs. KC last year, allowing four ER and 15 baserunners in 13 IP. But the Angels managed to lose both those games, and both games stayed under their totals.
On the offensive side of things, the Royals own a .316 team OBP this year, which ranks 24th in the league, and are averaging just 3.5 runs per game. Meanwhile, LA owns a .355 team OBP, which ranks 5th in the league, and is averaging 5.3 RPG.
The KC bullpen has allowed eight ER and 26 baserunners in its last 15 IP. On the other side of this match-up, the Angels pen has given up seven ER and 23 baserunners in its last 16 innings of work.
The o/u is 3-11 in Royals games this year, which are averaging just 6.6 total runs per. Meanwhile, the totals are 10-5 in LA games, which are averaging 10.1 total runs. And games played at Angels Stadium last year averaged 10.0 total runs.
Zman's Pick: We're laying the chalk and taking the Angels.
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