A’s vs. Royals Prediction
Will the Royals pick up a victory over the A’s today at 4:15PM ET in their home opener in 2017?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Royals are -116 money line favorites over the A’s, who have odds of +106 to pull off the small upset today in Kansas City. With Jharel Cotton set to face Ian Kennedy in the pitching matchup, the over/under currently sits at 8.5 for this afternoon’s game.
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Cotton had a rough 2017 debut, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings in Wednesday’s 5-0 loss to the Angels. He also struck out four as he absorbed the loss. He was unbeaten through a five-start stint last season but he was touched up for a run-scoring double by Andrelton Simmons and an RBI single by Danny Espinosa that produced another pair of runs. Following a pair of RBI singles by Mike Troubt and Albert Pujols in the fifth, it was all she wrote for Cotton.
Kennedy took the loss in Wednesday’s 9-1 defeat to the Twins, allowing three runs on three hits and five walks while striking out five in five innings. Just 55 of Kennedy’s 95 pitches went for strikes, but after allowing three runs in the second inning, he did manage to keep the Royals in the game. Unfortunately for Kansas City, its bullpen had other ideas as Minnesota racked up nine runs in the victory.
Bet Today’s A’s vs. Royals Game
OUR PICK: The Royals are 5-1 in Kennedy’s last six starts when he faces a team with a losing record and are 4-0 in his last four outings when their opponent allows five runs or more in its previous game. The A’s are 6-14 in their last 20 games dating back to the end of last year and have dropped seven of its last 10 road games. Kennedy wasn’t great in his opener but hopefully the same Cotton that showed up against the Angels will reappear today in Kansas City.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: KANSAS CITY ROYALS -116