A pair of aces matchup against each other in the series finale.
Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City Royals
Los Angeles picked up its sixth win in eight games on Wednesday night, grabbing a 7-2 road victory over the Kansas City. The Angels have now won 11 of their last 13 games against the Royals, including eight of the last 10 at Kauffman Stadium. The team’s offense is currently searching for someone to replace 1B Kendry Morales, who is on the disabled list with a broken leg. Manager Mike Scioscia may have found a temporary solution, giving C/DH Mike Napoli his second start at the position. He enjoyed a successful month of May, hitting .322 with eight home runs and 17 RBIs. “Mike’s value to our team is important at any time,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. Los Angeles has compiled an 11-8 daytime mark this season (+360) and the team is 79-34 over the last three years (+4,610).
Angels SP Jered Weaver is 4-2 with a 3.01 ERA in 11 starts this season (+40), recording nine quality outings in that span. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.55 ERA in five road starts this season, managing to strike out 30 batters and walk just nine in 29.2 innings of work. He’s set to make his eighth career start against Kansas City, posting a 3-4 record and 3.35 ERA against them, including an even 2-2 mark and 5.09 ERA in four starts at Kauffman Stadium. Weaver is winless in four daytime outings in 2010 despite allowing just seven earned runs and 21 hits over 24.2 innings.
Kansas City has lost four of its last five games, scoring just a total of 10 runs offensively over that span. Wednesday’s defeat moved the Royals to a disappointing 3-9 against left-handed starters this season. “You have good at-bats and you hit the ball hard and we did that a lot tonight,” manager Ned Yost said. The Royals are searching for its first victory when the lines maker places them at home with a money line of -100 to -125, as they are 0-3 this season (-340) and 23-32 over the last three seasons (-1,270). Kansas City has also managed to post a 9-12 daytime record this season (-110).
Royals SP Zach Greinke is hoping the offense provides some run support on Thursday afternoon, managing to score just 2.97 runs per game in his starts this season (5-6 O/U). The right-hander is 1-3 with a 4.09 ERA in five career starts against the Angels, going 0-1 with a 0.56 ERA in two last year, as the Royals gave him a total of one run of support. He has managed a 1-2 record and 4.15 ERA in five daytime starts, showing impeccable control of walking just four batters while striking out 27 in 30.1 innings. The Royals have sported a 2-9 record this season (-900) when having last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner on the mound.
Considering the matchup between starting pitchers being relatively even, bettors may take a crack at the 7.5 total that’s been placed on this game. Despite the low-scoring Royals with Greinke on the mound, the over is 4-1 in his last five home starts, with all five being placed at 7.0-8.5. The over is also 4-1 in Weaver’s last five starts away from Angel Stadium.
