Royals vs. Padres Pick
Can the Kansas City Royals avoid another loss to the San Diego Padres when the two teams meet up this afternoon at 4:10PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Kansas City is the favorite on the road, as the Royals are getting odds of -125 to win, while the Padres are listed with odds of +105 at home. The over/under total for the game is set at 8.5 runs.
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The pitching matchup for today’s game has Ian Kennedy (0-6, 5.33 ERA) on the mound for the Royals to face Miguel Diaz (1-1, 7.50) of the Padres. Kennedy hasn’t been good this year, allowing at least four earned run in his last five starts while failing to get past five innings. He has 44 strikeouts with 26 walks and a 1.28 WHIP. Diaz is making his first start of the season. He has made 21 appearances in relief, allowing 20 earned runs in 24 innings. He has 18 strikeouts with 13 walks and a 1.54 WHIP.
These two opened their weekend interleague series on Friday, with the Padres picking up a 6-3 win at home. San Diego is now 24-38 overall and 14-16 at home while Kansas City is 26-34 overall and 9-18 on the road.
Friday’s game saw the Padres score three runs in the eighth to take control of the contest. Chris Young allowed the three runs in the loss. KC had to jump into the bullpen quickly, as rookie Eric Skoglund lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing seven hits and two runs. Jhoulys Chacin got the win for San Diego, pitching 7 innings while allowing two runs with six strikeouts. Matt Szcur homered for San Diego in the win and was 2-for-2 at the plate. Franchy Cordero drove in a pair of runs as well. The Royals were led by Salvadaor Perez, who drove in a pair of runs and had two hits, including his 12th home run of the year.
Neither team has a great pitcher toeing the rubber. Kennedy has been sure to give up a handful of runs and Diaz hasn’t started a game. Last night’s game already depleted the KC bullpen, so I think that is the key today. The Royals don’t have the arms to use when Kennedy fails to get past the fifth. Diaz may not last long, but San Diego has its bullpen to turn to. I like the home team again today, as the Royals haven’t been a team to count on on the road as is.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: SAN DIEGO PADRES +105