Kansas City Royals vs Philadelphia Phillies Picks and Predictions August 23rd 2024

The forecast from Kansas City on Friday calls for scattered clouds and temperatures in the low 90s. First pitch for this interleague matchup is set for 8:10 PM ET from Kauffman Stadium. The Phillies are 74-53 this season, and they are the leaders in the NL East. The Royals are 2nd in the AL Central at 71-56 and they are favored on the money line tonight at -142. Philadelphia’s money line odds are sitting at +120, and the over/under line is at 9 runs.

Taijuan Walker will be starting for the Phillies, while the Royals are sending Michael Wacha to the mound. BSKC is carrying this one on TV, and the game can be live streamed on MLB.tv.

Philadelphia vs. Kansas City Key Information

Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Phillies today as he faces the Royals on the road. He has made 12 starts this season and has a record of 3-4 with an ERA of 5.69. Walker’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.51. The right-hander has turned in just two quality starts this year and is averaging 7.44 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Walker finished with a no-decision, giving up three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. Before that, he had lost three straight starts. Walker has given up at least one homer in each of his last three outings.

For the season, the Phillies are averaging 4.8 runs per game, which is 8th in the league. At home, they have been even better, averaging 5.3 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .256, which is the 5th best mark in the MLB right now. Philadelphia also has a good team on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.

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Over his last six games, Trea Turner has gone 7/23 (.304) with a home run and three RBIs. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are the Phillies’ top power threats, as Schwarber has 28 homers and Harper has 26. Schwarber’s 79 RBIs are 2nd on the team, and Harper is 3rd with 73 RBIs.

Michael Wacha gets the start for the Royals today and will be looking to build off his last outing, where he didn’t give up a run. In that start vs. the Reds, he went 6 innings, picking up the win and giving up just four hits. Looking back over his last four outings, Wacha has given up two earned runs in three of them. He has a record of 10-6 this season and an ERA of 3.33. Wacha has made 22 starts, and opponents are batting .240 off him this season. Per nine innings, he is averaging 7.65 strikeouts and 2.69 walks.

Rookie shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been on a tear for the Royals, hitting .352 for the season with 25 homers and 92 RBIs. He has also been hot of late, going 16/38 in his last 10 games with three homers and eight RBIs. Vinnie Pasquantino has also been a big power threat for the Royals, as he has 18 homers and is batting .265 for the season.

As a team, the Royals are 7th in scoring at 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. Overall, they are the 4th ranked batting average team in the league and have the 2nd fewest strikeouts in the league. Currently, Hunter Renfroe has a four-game hitting streak, while Bobby Witt Jr. is on a 10 game streak.

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 6th highest-scoring game of the day. As for a straight-up pick, we are leaning toward the Royals to come out on top. Kansas City starter Michael Wacha has the 3rd best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters, and he is also working against the 4th worst strikeout pitcher in Taijuan Walker.

Taijuan Walker Aims to End Skid as Phillies Face Royals

After an extreme series misfortune to the division rival Atlanta Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies head to Kansas City for an end of the week series against the Kansas City Royals, wanting to recover their energy. With their season finisher trusts still alive, the Phillies need to make something happen, beginning with serious areas of strength for a from Taijuan Walker on Friday night.

Phillies Hope to Return quickly After Downturn

The Phillies entered their series against the Braves on a four-game series of wins, yet they battled powerfully in Atlanta, losing two of three games and overseeing only six sudden spikes in demand for 13 hits. Philadelphia director Ransack Thomson stays sure about his group’s capacity to quickly return, regardless of the new hostile battles.

“You know that they’re gonna hit at some point,” Thomson said after a 3-1 loss on Tuesday. “It’s just one of those nights. We’ve gotta come back here tomorrow, strap it on, and get after it.”

Philadelphia now looks to get back on track against the Royals, who have been playing well recently. The Phillies will rely on Taijuan Walker to help them secure a much-needed win.

Taijuan Walker Searching for First Win Since May

Right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-4, 5.69 ERA) will take the mound for the Phillies, making his third start since returning from the injured list. Walker has been struggling since his return, failing to complete five innings in either of his last two starts. The Phillies have lost seven consecutive games started by Walker, and he hasn’t recorded a win since May 11.

Despite his recent struggles, Walker has had some success against Kansas City in the past. He is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four career starts against the Royals, including a win in his last start against them on August 8, 2023, where he allowed four runs over seven innings.

Thomson remains hopeful that Walker can find his form again, noting that there is still work to be done on his control and command. “He competed,” Thomson said after Walker’s last start. “But I do think there’s more.”

Phillies Await Key Returns

As the Phillies face the Royals, they are anticipating the arrival of two central members from the harmed list. Elite player left-hander Officer Suarez, who has been sidelined since July 22 with lower back irritation, is supposed to be enacted and begin on Saturday. Suarez tossed a four-inning mimicked game as of late, and Thomson revealed that his “stuff looked great.”

Outfielder Austin Hays, acquired at the trade deadline, is also expected to return over the weekend after recovering from a left hamstring strain. Hays has completed a rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will be eased back into regular play.

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Royals Look to Continue Hot Streak

The Kansas City Royals are on a roll, winning six of their last seven games and closing the gap to two games behind the division-leading Cleveland Guardians. They will send Michael Wacha (10-6, 3.33 ERA) to the mound on Friday. Wacha has been in excellent form, going 6-0 with a 2.33 ERA over his last nine starts.

Wacha’s last outing was particularly impressive, as he threw six shutout innings, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out nine in a win against the Cincinnati Reds.

“He was in control,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said after Wacha’s recent victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. “Overall, he was in command of everything.”

Kansas City’s offense has been driven by the heart of their order, with Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez all ranking in the top 10 in RBIs in the majors. The Royals are the only team boasting three players with 85 or more RBIs, making them a formidable opponent for the Phillies.

High Stakes as Phillies and Royals Clash

With the two groups fighting for various objectives — Philadelphia attempting to remain in the season finisher race and Kansas City pushing for a division title — this end of the week series vows to be an essential one. Taijuan Walker will be hoping to snap his horrible streak and assist the Phillies with refocusing, while the Royals mean to proceed with their hot streak and close the hole in the AL Focal. A lot is on the line as the two groups hope to say something in this critical series.