Red Sox face Kansas City Royals: MLB odds preview and stats

Boston Red SoxKansas City Royals
Aug 18, 8:10 PM | GrassKauffman Stadium

Boston Red Sox vs Kansas City Royals Odds

74-48TEAM RECORD51-73



Kansas City will look to improve on its 51-73 record when take on Boston, a key part of the MLB odds lineup on Thursday.

Josh Beckett, with a record of 9-5 on the season, gets the ball for the Red Sox, while the Royals trot Luke Hochevar to the mound in this one. He is 8-9 so far in 2011.



View Boston vs Kansas City Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The visitors opened as 170 moneyline favorites in this one at most online sportsbooks tracked at Odds Shark. The total opened at 8.5 for those preferring over under wagers.

Power Rankings:
The Royals - Red Sox odds would favor the Red Sox if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Kansas City is rated No. 9 in the current American League Odds Shark poll, while Boston is at No. 3 in the American League.



How They Match Up:
Rating these teams in several key categories is important for handicappers and Kansas City has the American League's No. 6-rated offensive output, at 9.3 hits per game. The Red Sox average 9.7 hits per game, good for No. 2 on the American League list.

Defensively, Boston features the American League's No. 2-rated defense on the road, allowing 3.8 runs per game. Kansas City, meanwhile, comes in at No. 6 in the American League at home, scoring 4.4 runs per game.

Last time out for Boston, they were a 4-0 loser as they battled the Rays at home. Moneyline bettors who got the Rays at +100 were rewarded, while the 4 combined runs moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. The Red Sox were shut out in their last start, struggling to get much going against the Tampa Bay staff and losing 4-0 to the Rays on Wednesday at Fenway Park.

In their last action, Kansas City was a 5-4 Sportsbook at home against the Yankees. Bettors on Kansas City at +146 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (9) sent UNDER bettors home happy as well. Kansas City looks to continue its winning ways following a victory last time out against the Yankees, a 5-4 final on Wednesday in support of Bruce Chen at Kauffman Stadium.


Boston Red Sox Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Kansas City are 6-4
After playing Tampa Bay are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4

Kansas City Royals Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 2-8
Before playing Boston are 5-5
After playing NY Yankees are 6-4
After a win are 3-7


A few Red Sox at Royals trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Boston is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 6 games at home
Kansas City is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
Kansas City is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Boston


Next up:
Boston at Kansas City, Friday, August 19

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