Kansas City Royals vs Philadelphia Phillies Picks and Predictions August 24th 2024

The Phillies and Royals are set to square off in an interleague matchup at 7:10 PM ET at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. The money line odds have the Phillies at -121 compared to the Royals at +102, and the over/under line is at 9 runs.

MLBN will be televising Saturday’s game, and the Phillies are looking to snap a two-game losing streak, as they are 74-54 and in 1st place in the NL East. The Royals have won two straight and are 2nd in the AL Central with a record of 72-56.

Philadelphia vs. Kansas City Key Information

Ranger Suárez gets the start for the Phillies today as he faces the Royals on the road. He has made 20 starts this season and has a record of 10-5 with a 2.87 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, Suárez has a WHIP of 1.06 and has pitched one shutout this year. Suárez has turned in 11 quality starts this year, and his ERA at home is 3.03 compared to 3.17 on the road. In his last outing, Suárez took the loss, giving up three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. Before that, he had lost two straight starts.

Over the Phillies’ last eight games, Alec Bohm has gone 9/31 with one home run and five RBIs. This has helped him move into the top spot on the team’s RBI rankings, as he has 85 RBIs this season while batting .295. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper have also been key run producers for the Phillies, as Schwarber’s 28 homers is 1st on the team and 13th in the league, and Harper has 26 homers and 73 RBIs.

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As a team, the Phillies are 8th in the league in scoring (4.8 runs per game) and have been even better at home, where they are averaging 5.3 runs per contest. Overall, they are the 4th best hitting team in the league, with a team batting average of .256. Philadelphia comes into the game with a team on-base percentage of .325 and is 5th in the league in slugging percentage.

Brady Singer will be looking to build off his last outing, where he didn’t give up a run. Against the Reds on August 18th, he picked up the win, going 6 innings and giving up just five hits. This season, he has made 25 starts, and his record is 9-8 with a 3.18 ERA. Singer has turned in 11 quality starts and is averaging 8.64 strikeouts per nine innings. For the year, he has allowed 15 home runs. Looking at his numbers, Singer has an ERA of 2.64 at home compared to 4.59 on the road.

Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. have been two of the Royals’ top power threats this season, with Perez having 23 homers and Witt Jr. at 25. Perez is batting .276 for the season, while Witt Jr. has been even better at .350. Witt Jr. has also been on a tear of late, going 4/11 in his last three games. Perez has struggled a bit in his last five games, going just 4/19.

As a team, the Royals are 6th in the league in scoring at 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. Overall, they are the league’s 3rd best hitting team, with a combined batting average of .258. Kansas City is also one of the league’s best teams at avoiding strikeouts.

There should be no shortage of offense in today’s Phillies and Royals matchup, and not only are we leaning towards the Phillies picking up the win, but we like their chances to do so on the money line. Philadelphia comes into this one with the best team hits projection and the 2nd best home runs projection. Looking at today’s starters, we have Brady Singer as the 18th best strikeout option compared to Ranger Suárez (12th).

Salvador Perez Inspires Royals to Push for Victory Against Phillies

Salvador Perez is more than just a star player for the Kansas City Royals—he’s a beacon of inspiration, both on and off the field. On Thursday, during the Royals’ off day, Perez found himself in a friend’s backyard, where he encountered a group of kids playing Wiffle ball. Without hesitation, he joined them, much to the delight of the young players. This seemingly small act of kindness and connection had a profound impact, not only on the children but also on Perez himself.

“The Wiffle ball yesterday got me ready for tonight’s game,” Perez joked afterward, adding that maybe he should make it a pre-game ritual. Little did he know that his casual backyard game would translate into an outstanding performance in Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Perez Powers Royals to Victory

On Friday, Perez’s energy from that Wiffle ball game clearly carried over to the big league. He was instrumental in the Royals’ 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, driving in three runs, including a towering 434-foot homer into the left-field fountains. This blast was more than just a home run—it was a milestone, marking Perez’s 900th career RBI, making him only the fourth Royals player to achieve such a feat.

“That ball was absolutely tattooed,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said with admiration after Perez’s two-run homer. “His energy level is great.”

At 34, Perez shows no signs of slowing down. When asked about reaching the 900 RBI milestone, he reflected humbly, “It means a lot. Hopefully, many more.” His ability to deliver in clutch moments has been crucial to Kansas City’s recent success, with Perez tied for the major league lead in go-ahead RBIs, alongside Aaron Judge.

Earning Respect and Admiration from Teammates

Perez’s impact extends beyond his statistical contributions. His leadership and passion for the game have earned him deep respect from his teammates. Vinnie Pasquantino, one of the younger players on the team, shared his admiration:

“The first thing I noticed about him is the respect that other teams give him. The guy’s been doing it forever. You just see the work that he puts in every day. Just to see how he does it is incredible. The joy the guy has for the game is second to none. He’s the captain for a reason.”

Even Royals manager Matt Quatraro couldn’t help but express his awe: “To be as good as he’s been for as long as he’s been, to accumulate those numbers is incredible.”

Hunter Renfroe, who also homered in Friday’s game, recognized Perez’s long-standing influence and leadership: “Four hundred behind Sal,” Renfroe quipped after his own milestone, surpassing 500 career RBIs. “He’s been doing this for 12, 13 years now. It’s just incredible to see him go out there and work as hard as he does. He’s our leader.”

Brady Singer Takes the Mound as Royals Continue Their Surge

With energy on their side, the Royals are set to proceed with their push on Saturday, sending right-hander Brady Vocalist to the hill. Vocalist, who holds a 9-8 record with a 3.18 ERA, is falling off major areas of strength for a, having tossed six shutout innings against Cincinnati in his last start. This will be his most memorable career start against the Phillies, and the Royals are trusting he can keep their series of wins alive.

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Philadelphia, then again, will counter with left-hander Ranger Suarez, who has recently been activated from the harmed list. Suarez, who has a 10-5 record with a 2.87 ERA, has battled in ongoing trips, losing four of his last five starts. Saturday’s game will mark his most memorable career appearance against the Royals.

Phillies Struggle to Regain Their Footing

For the Phillies, Friday’s loss marked their fourth defeat in five games. Despite the loss, there were signs of improvement, particularly in their approach at the plate. Phillies manager Rob Thomson acknowledged the better at-bats:

“I was encouraged by our at-bats tonight. I thought they were a lot better. I didn’t think we chased as much, not nearly as much as (Thursday) night. We used the entire field. We moved runners. I was encouraged by how we swung the bats, used the field, didn’t chase, and tried to manufacture some runs.”

Notwithstanding, the Phillies’ battles with pitching remain a worry. Starting pitcher Taijuan Walker allowed six sudden spikes in demand for eight hits over only three innings, a performance that has left his spot in the rotation uncertain. Although reliever Tyler Gilbert, recently optioned to Triple-A Lehigh, showed some commitment in his season’s just major league appearance, the Phillies will require additional steady performances from their staff to turn their season around.

As the series proceeds, all eyes will be on Salvador Perez, whose leadership and on-field heroics have the Royals dreaming of additional triumphs ahead.