Atlanta Braves vs. Kansas City Royals Betting Pick 09/25/19

Whit Merrifield and the Kansas City Royals are set to host the Atlanta Braves at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. This interleague matchup will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City.

Atlanta Braves at Kansas City Royals Odds

Atlanta (-200) is favored over Kansas City (+185) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 9 runs (-120 for the over and +100 for the under). There’s a runline of Braves -1.5 (-140) and Royals +1.5 (+120) for this matchup.

The Braves are 96-62 SU and have gone 78-79 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 21.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 0.2 units ATS. Atlanta has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 58-100 SU and 74-83 ATS. They’ve lost 22.4 units for moneyline bettors and 21.9 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.

Kansas City games have a 78-71-8 over/under record in 2019. Braves games have gone over 75 times, gone under 74 times and pushed on eight occasions.

The right-handed Mike Soroka will get the start for the visiting Braves. Soroka is 13-4 with a 2.60 ERA and 135 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.

The Royals are handing the ball to lefty Mike Montgomery (3-9, 5.00 ERA), who has 65 strikeouts and 31 walks as well as a 1.61 WHIP. Montgomery is 0-1 with five strikeouts and a 7.71 ERA against Atlanta this year.

As a unit, Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.3 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.26, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 5.04 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 8.7 K/9.

Kansas City’s offense is putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.8 per game over its last 10 games and 7.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .318/.405/.464 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.

The Royals’ batters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Jorge Soler. Merrifield is slashing .301/.348/.461 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, 103 runs and 19 stolen bases, and Soler is hitting .262 with 45 homers, 112 RBIs and 92 runs.

In the visiting dugout, Atlanta’s pitchers have allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.16 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.16 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.28, along with a K-per-9 of 9.21.

The Braves offense has slashed .258/.338/.454 on its way to 5.3 runs scored per game this year, including 4.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).

Atlanta’s offensive production has been fueled by second baseman Ozzie Albies and left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who have combined to blast 65 home runs. Albies is slashing .299/.355/.509 with 24 home runs, 84 RBIs, 100 runs and 15 stolen bases, while Acuna Jr. (.280/.365/.518) is up to 41 homers, 101 RBIs, 127 runs and 37 stolen bases.

The Braves have gained 5.7 units and are 17-17 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 17 of those games, compared to 14 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 15.2 units and are 55-60 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 57 of those games, compared to 54 that’ve gone under.

Atlanta Braves at Kansas City Royals MLB Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Braves, ATS Winner – Braves, O/U – OVER