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Kansas City Royals vs Baltimore Orioles: AL Wild Card Game – Game 1
The Kansas City Royals are visiting the Baltimore Orioles today at Orioles Park at Camden Yards in the AL Wild Card series.
The Royals are not in top form
The Kansas City Royals finished the regular season second in the AL Central with an 86-76 record, including 41-40 on the road. After losing seven consecutive games, they won four of the last six. Kansas City has a 3.76 ERA, a .238 batting average, a .307 on-base percentage, and 1.24 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Bobby Witt Jr. is the best player on the team with 211 hits, 125 runs, and 32 home runs.
Another disappointing season for the Marlins
The Baltimore Orioles finished the regular second in the AL East with an 91-71 record and 44-37 at home. They won 5 of the last 6 games and are coming series sweep against the Minnesota Twins. The Orioles have a 3.94 ERA, a .235 batting average, a .303 on-base percentage, and 1.24 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Gunnar Henderson leads the team with 177 hits, and 118 runs while Anthony Santander is on top with 44 home runs.
Betting Trends
The Orioles are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games overall, 2-6 SU in their last 8 home games and 7-1 SU in their last 8 home games against Kansas City. Baltimore has played over the total run line in 4 of their last 5 games overall, 6 of their last 9 games against teams from the AL and 4 of their last 6 games against teams from the AL Central. The Royals are 4-9 SU in their last 13 games overall, 2-8 SU in their last 10 games against Baltimore, and 1-5 SU in their last 6 games against teams from the AL. Kansas City has played under the total run line in 6 of their last 7 games overall, 7 of their last 8 games on the road and has gone over in 4 of their last 8 games against teams from the AL East.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Kansas City Royals were in a tight race to reach the playoffs and were able to get through even though they had a slow finish to the regular season. The Royals will start Cole Ragans in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. He is 11-9 for the season, with a 3.14 ERA, 223 K, 186.1 IP, and 1.14 WHIP. The Orioles will go with Corbin Burnes, who is 15-9 for the season with a 2.92 ERA, 181 K, 194.1 IP, and 1.10 WHIP. The Orioles have been pretty dominant against the Royals, winning 8 of their last 10 games at home. They have a better overall roster than the Royals, and with the support of the home crowd, they will start the series with a win.
