Kansas City Royals vs Los Angeles Angels Picks and Predictions August 19th 2024

Royals’ Seth Lugo eyes repeat performance in opener vs. Angels

Carson Fulmer is starting for the Angels, and he is facing off against Seth Lugo for the Royals. This one is getting started at 8:10 PM ET from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. BSKC is carrying the game on TV, and the money line odds have them at -201 compared to the Angels at +169. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs.

The forecast for Monday’s matchup calls for scattered clouds and temperatures in the mid-80s. The Angels are 53-71, while the Royals have won four straight and are 3rd in the AL Central with a record of 69-55. The over has hit in four of the Angels’ last five games, while the under has hit in three of the Royals’ last five.

Los Angeles vs. Kansas City Key Information

• Teams: Angels at Royals
• Where: Kauffman Stadium Kansas City
• Date: Monday, August 19th
• Betting Odds KC -201 | LAA +169 O/U 9

The Angels Can Win If…

Right-hander Carson Fulmer gets the start for the Angels today as he faces the Royals on the road. He has made six starts this season and has a record of 0-3 with an ERA of 4.22. Fulmer’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.25. In his 30 appearances, he has turned in just one quality start and is averaging 8.57 strikeouts per nine innings. Looking back at his last outing, Fulmer took the loss, giving up five earned runs in three innings of work. Before that, he had gone three straight outings without taking the loss.

Los Angeles comes into the game with the 26th ranked scoring offense in the league, averaging 4 runs per game. They have been even worse at home, averaging just 3.9 runs per contest. As a team, the Angels are batting .235, which is 16th in the league, and have the 21st ranked home run total in the league.

Jo Adell has hit a team-high 18 homers this season but is batting just .203. Zach Neto and Logan O’Hoppe are both batting over .250 for the Angels, with Neto leading the team with 61 RBIs. O’Hoppe has gone just 1/13 in his last four games, but did homer during that stretch. Matt Thaiss and Willie Calhoun have also homered in their last two games.

• The Angels are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Angels are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 4-5-1 in their last ten games.
• The Angels have an average of 2.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Angels are 7-3
• Looking back across the Angels last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Los Angeles has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Angels have averaged 4.9 runs per game on offense

The Royals Can Win If…

Seth Lugo gets the start for the Royals today and will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Twins. In that start, he took the loss, giving up seven earned runs in four innings of work. Lugo gave up a total of four homers in that outing. Before that start, he had pitched well, giving up a combined two earned runs in his previous two outings. Lugo’s ERA for the season is 3.04, along with a record of 13-7. For the year, he has made 25 starts, one of which was a complete game, and has 17 quality starts.

So far this season, the Royals are averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 7th in the league. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. As a team, the Royals are batting .256, which is the 5th best mark in the league. They also have the 2nd fewest strikeouts in the league and have the 8th best slugging percentage in the league.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been one of the league’s top hitters this season, batting .350 with 25 homers. He has been even better of late, going 16/39 in his last 10 games with five home runs. Witt Jr. is also on a seven-game hitting streak. Vinnie Pasquantino is also on a hot streak, as he has homered four times in his last 10 games and is batting .266 for the season.

• The Royals are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Royals are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Kansas City has an over/under record of 7-2-1 in their last ten games.
• The Royals have an average of 7.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Royals are 7-3
• Looking back across the Royals last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Kansas City has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Royals have averaged 6.2 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Despite this Angels vs. Royals matchup being our 3rd lowest projected scoring game of the day, we are still leaning towards taking the over. As for a straight-up pick, we like the Royals to come out on top. Kansas City starter Seth Lugo has the 4th worst projected innings pitched figure among today’s starters, but we still like the Royals to pick up the win. Carson Fulmer has the worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.

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The Kansas City Royals, riding high on a four-game winning streak, are set to open a three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Monday. The Royals aim to continue their recent success, driven by stellar starting pitching and explosive offensive performances.

Royals’ Pitching Powerhouse: Seth Lugo on the Mound

Right-hander Seth Lugo (13-7, 3.04 ERA) will take the mound for Kansas City, looking to reverse a recent dip in form. While Lugo’s overall season has been solid, his recent outings have been less impressive. Over his last seven starts, he has posted a 5.36 ERA, losing five of those games. His most recent start was a struggle, as he allowed seven earned runs in just four innings during the Royals’ 13-3 defeat against the Minnesota Twins.

However, Lugo has previously excelled against the Angels, striking out 12 batters over eight innings in a 4-2 win on May 12. With a 1.17 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Angels, Lugo is poised to deliver another strong performance.

Kansas City’s Offense: A Force to Be Reckoned With

The Royals’ offense has been on fire, particularly in their recent sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. They outscored the Reds 28-3 across three games, showcasing their ability to produce big innings. Leading the charge has been Dairon Blanco, who blasted three home runs and drove in eight RBIs during the series. His contributions included a grand slam and a seven-RBI game, underscoring his impact at the plate.

Adding to the Royals’ offensive prowess is Bobby Witt Jr., who recently became the second youngest player in franchise history to reach 500 career hits. Vinnie Pasquantino has also been a key figure, leading the majors with 30 RBIs since the All-Star break and accumulating 92 RBIs for the season, which ranks him third in the American League.

Angels’ Offensive Woes: Missing Mike Trout

The Los Angeles Angels have been struggling, particularly on offense. With star player Mike Trout sidelined due to injury, the team has found it difficult to generate runs, ranking 27th in the majors with just 493 runs scored this season. Over their last nine games, the Angels have lost seven, failing to score more than four runs in eight of those contests. Their struggles were highlighted in a recent series against the Toronto Blue Jays, where they went hitless in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Carson Fulmer: A Rocky Road Ahead

Right-hander Carson Fulmer (0-3, 4.22 ERA) will start for the Angels as they embark on a 10-game road trip. Fulmer’s season has been a mixed bag, particularly as a starter where he has posted a 4.82 ERA. His recent start against the Blue Jays saw him surrender five runs, including two home runs, in just three innings. Fulmer has struggled with the long ball, giving up five home runs in 28 innings as a starter this season.

Fulmer’s past encounters with the Royals have been relatively successful, including a seven-inning shutout performance in 2018 while with the Chicago White Sox. However, given the Royals’ current form, he will need to bring his best to contain their potent lineup.

Key Matchup: Royals’ Offense vs. Angels’ Pitching

The key to this game will likely be whether Seth Lugo can return to form and whether the Royals’ bats can continue their recent hot streak. On the other side, the Angels need a strong outing from Carson Fulmer and a resurgence in their offense to stand a chance against a Royals team firing on all cylinders.

With Kansas City in top form and the Angels struggling, the Royals are favored to extend their winning streak in this series opener. However, baseball is always full of surprises, and the Angels will be eager to turn their fortunes around.