The Houston Astros (52-27, 25-11 home) and Kansas City Royals (29-49, 15-24 away) continue their four-game series with game two Tuesday night in the Lone Star State. Houston defeated the Royals in the opener, 7-6, and owns a 3-1 head-to-head record against Kansas City this year.
The first pitch of the contest is slated for 8:10 p.m. EST inside Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Houston is heavily favored in the contest at -240, and the over-under total is eight runs.
What to Know – Kansas City Royals
Kansas City has lost two of its last three recent games and is 4-6 over its last ten contests. The Royals find themselves in last place in the American League Central, 14.5 games back of the top spot.
Former Houston Astro Zack Greinke (2-4, 4.38 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) gets the ball on the mound for the Royals. The veteran right-hander posted back-to-back wins in his only two starts at the end of June after coming off the injured list. The 38-year-old might have his best stuff behind him, but he’s logged 63.2 innings, surrendered 31 earned runs, 67 hits, 11 walks, with 32 strikeouts.
Bobby Witt Jr. has lived up to the hype surrounding his name and has been one of the catalysts for the Royals’ offense in 2022. The 22-year-old is the team leader in runs batted in with 38 and has 11 home runs and 12 stolen bases. Andrew Benintendi’s added 31 RBI and a team-high .314 batting average.
Kansas City is 17th in the league, hitting .240 as a team and scoring 3.9 runs per game. The pitching staff for the Royals ranks 27th in the majors with a 4.92 team earned run average.
What to Know – Houston Astros
Houston looks to keep the winning streak rolling and notch its eighth in a row on Tuesday. The Astros have won seven straight and comfortably own a 13.5-game lead in the AL West.
Right-hander Luis Garcia (6-5, 3.54 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) is the probable starter for the hosts. Garcia has won his last three starts, including a one-run effort in a victory over the New York Yankees last time out. Garcia has pitched 76.1 innings, allowed 30 earned runs on 60 hits and 21 walks while striking out 80.
The 25-year-old Yordan Alvarez has put together an All-Star performance over the first half of the season. Alvarez is second in the majors with 24 home runs and seventh with 57 RBIs. Kyle Tucker (56 RBI) and Alex Bregman (40 RBI) add additional power to a lineup that is stacked from top to bottom.
The Astros average 4.4 runs per game behind a .240 team batting average that sits 16th in the MLB. Houston’s pitching staff is second in the majors with a 2.93 team ERA.
The Pick is In
Two teams on opposite trajectories this season. The Astros are World Series contenders while the Royals rebuild their roster. Greinke’s recent success might work for a few innings, but take the better team at home here.
Betting Pick: Houston Astros ML
