Don’t look now, but the Kansas City Royals are making a run at the playoffs. The Royals – who are 10-1 in their past 11 – have enjoyed being underestimated, as they are 5-1 in their past six games as underdogs. KC will likely close as dogs when they kick off a three-game set with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Friday.
- The Royals are just 26-40 on the road this season.
- The OVER is 8-2 in Steven Wright’s past 10 starts at Fenway Park.
- The Red Sox are 8-1 in their past nine Friday games.
Ian Kennedy has been untouchable during the month of August. The righty has posted a 0.67 ERA while holding opponents to a .170 batting average in his last four starts. Kennedy has only allowed three earned runs in his past 34.0 innings of work.
The Red Sox will activate Steven Wright from the DL, as the knuckleballer was sidelined since August 5 with shoulder inflammation. Wright was inconsistent leading up to his trip to the DL, as he posted a 4.95 ERA in his previous seven starts.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Those going with the Boston Red Sox in this one found them listed on the odds board as moneyline favorites of -147 at Sportsbook for Friday's contest. The betting total was hovering near 9 at Sportsbook.
Prediction-scoring formulas run on this game pick a potential 4.4-3.0 result in favor of the Royals. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Kansas City Royals vs Boston Red Sox Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Boston Red Sox bring a 71-56 record to the battle against the 66-61 Royals. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Boston vs Kansas City injuries news.
It's a MLB baseball betting matchup between the No. 1-rated Boston Red Sox and the league No. 2-ranked Kansas City Royals, according to the latest MLB power poll here at Odds Shark.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up Boston Red Sox No. 1 ranked offense (5.43 runs per game) against a Kansas City Royals defense and pitching staff that sits at No. 8 at 4.12 runs allowed per game. The Boston Red Sox have been averaging 9.93 hits per game, more than the Kansas City Royals have managed so far this season (8.96 hits on average).
Boston owns the No. 17 defense, allowing 5.43 men per game to cross the plate. That contrasts with Kansas City's No. 8-rated defense.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Kansas City looks to continue its winning ways following a victory last time out against the Marlins, a 5-2 final on Thursday in support of E Volquez at Marlins Park.
D Pomeranz did his job in a losing cause last time out against Tampa Bay, striking out 11 in a 2-1 loss on Thursday at Tropicana Field.
- Kansas City is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
- Kansas City is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games
- Kansas City is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
- Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
- Boston is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games
- Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Kansas City at Boston, Saturday, August 27th
