MLB Pick: Oakland A’s at Kansas City Royals

The Oakland Athletics (30-28 Overall, 15-13 Away) are at the Kansas City Royals (20-37 Overall, 9-20 Away) once again today. Last night, it was all Oakland, as the A’s scored 16 runs on 16 hits while smacking four homeruns. KC had a total of eight scattered hits and did not score a run. It was total carnage. Today may be different. Then again, you never know. Our Oakland plays Kansas City June 2 MLB pick has the A’s at -143 and the Royals at +148 with an over/under of 9.0. (over +110/under -100). Runline odds offer Oakland at -1.5 (-112) and KC at +1.5 (-120).

Standings and Reality

Both teams are in fourth-place in their respective divisions. Oakland is 6.5 games behind the West Division-leading Houston Astros. Kansas City is 10.5 games in back of the Central Division-leading Cleveland Indians. If these two teams exchanged divisions, the A’s would be in a virtual tie for first with the Indians and the Royals would be in last place and 17.5 games away from first. In other words, despite the fact that they are in identical position in the standings in their respective divisions, Oakland is a much better ball club than Kansas City.

Pitching

The Athletics will go with righty Trevor Cahill on the mound. This season, he is 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA. He came off the 10-day disabled list on May 16 and since then has held batters to a .183 average. He was signed by the A’s as free agent on March 19. Cahill last start was a no-decision versus Tampa Bay, which Oakland lost 1-0. He gave up four hits in that game while pitching eight innings. Oakland lost in 13 innings. The A’s signed him as a free agent on March 19.

Jason Hammel had a tough early April to mid-May. In his first nine starts, all games that KC lost, he went 0-5-4 with a 6.28 ERA. However, in his last two stars, he’s gone 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA. In those two games, he’s allowed one earned run over 12 1/3 innings. Recently, his placement, especially on his fastball and slider, has improved considerably, and that’s helped him win. He presently has a 5.23 ERA in 11 starts this season. He has struggled at home this year, going 0-3 at Kaufman Stadium and posting a 4.74 ERA. Versus the A’s lifetime, Hammel is 4-2 with a 4.67 ERA in five starts and nine total appearances.

Offense

Oakland is batting .240 with 73 homers and 251 RBI, They have an OBP of .311. The Royals are hitting at a .257 mark, but they’ve smacked just 51 homers and scored only 215 runs. Their OBP is similar to the A’s, .319.

The A’s Jed Lowrie leads the team in batting average (.295), hits (66) and OBP (.363). Khris Davis, who’s hitting just .237, tops out in RBI (40) and homeruns (13). Matt Olson has been a decent contributor with 11 round trippers and 24 RBI. He is batting .246.

KC will expect production from Jon Jay and Whit Merrifield, as well as Mike Moustakas and Jorge Soler. Jay, who tops all Royals with a .302 BA, has 67 hits, which is also best on the team, and eight doubles. Merrifield has the highest OBP for the Royals, as he comes in at .373. He’s hitting .296 with 63 hits, 16 doubles, and 22 RBI. Moustakas and Soler have 14 doubles each, and the former leads the club in homeruns (12) and RBI (39).

Our MLB Pick: Oakland A’s at Kansas City Royals

The Oakland Athletics (30-28 Overall, 15-13 Away) are at the Kansas City Royals (20-37 Overall, 9-20 Away) once again today. Last night, it was all Oakland, as the A’s scored 16 runs on 16 hits while smacking four homeruns. KC had a total of eight scattered hits and did not score a run. It was total carnage. Today may be different. Then again, you never know. Our Oakland plays Kansas City June 2 MLB pick has the A’s at -143 and the Royals at +148 with an over/under of 9.0. (over +110/under -100). Runline odds offer Oakland at -1.5 (-112) and KC at +1.5 (-120).

Standings and Reality

Both teams are in fourth-place in their respective divisions. Oakland is 6.5 games behind the West Division-leading Houston Astros. Kansas City is 10.5 games in back of the Central Division-leading Cleveland Indians. If these two teams exchanged divisions, the A’s would be in a virtual tie for first with the Indians and the Royals would be in last place and 17.5 games away from first. In other words, despite the fact that they are in identical position in the standings in their respective divisions, Oakland is a much better ball club than Kansas City.

Pitching

The Athletics will go with righty Trevor Cahill on the mound. This season, he is 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA. He came off the 10-day disabled list on May 16 and since then has held batters to a .183 average. He was signed by the A’s as free agent on March 19. Cahill last start was a no-decision versus Tampa Bay, which Oakland lost 1-0. He gave up four hits in that game while pitching eight innings. Oakland lost in 13 innings. The A’s signed him as a free agent on March 19.

Jason Hammel had a tough early April to mid-May. In his first nine starts, all games that KC lost, he went 0-5-4 with a 6.28 ERA. However, in his last two stars, he’s gone 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA. In those two games, he’s allowed one earned run over 12 1/3 innings. Recently, his placement, especially on his fastball and slider, has improved considerably, and that’s helped him win. He presently has a 5.23 ERA in 11 starts this season. He has struggled at home this year, going 0-3 at Kaufman Stadium and posting a 4.74 ERA. Versus the A’s lifetime, Hammel is 4-2 with a 4.67 ERA in five starts and nine total appearances.

Offense

Oakland is batting .240 with 73 homers and 251 RBI, They have an OBP of .311. The Royals are hitting at a .257 mark, but they’ve smacked just 51 homers and scored only 215 runs. Their OBP is similar to the A’s, .319.

The A’s Jed Lowrie leads the team in batting average (.295), hits (66) and OBP (.363). Khris Davis, who’s hitting just .237, tops out in RBI (40) and homeruns (13). Matt Olson has been a decent contributor with 11 round trippers and 24 RBI. He is batting .246.

KC will expect production from Jon Jay and Whit Merrifield, as well as Mike Moustakas and Jorge Soler. Jay, who tops all Royals with a .302 BA, has 67 hits, which is also best on the team, and eight doubles. Merrifield has the highest OBP for the Royals, as he comes in at .373. He’s hitting .296 with 63 hits, 16 doubles, and 22 RBI. Moustakas and Soler have 14 doubles each, and the former leads the club in homeruns (12) and RBI (39).

Our Oakland Plays Kansas City June 2 MLB Pick

Our Oakland plays Kansas City June 2 MLB pick likes the Royals in this one. We’re taking them with the moneyline at +148. In making this pick, we’re counting on Hammel having another good outing. With that possibility in mind, we are also taking the under at nine runs.

Summary Oakland at Kansas City Picks: KC at +148 and under 9.0 (-100)

Our Oakland plays Kansas City June 2 MLB pick likes the Royals in this one. We’re taking them with the moneyline at +148. In making this pick, we’re counting on Hammel having another good outing. With that possibility in mind, we are also taking the under at nine runs.

Summary Oakland at Kansas City Picks: KC at +148 and under 9.0 (-100)