Kansas City Royals vs Philadelphia Phillies Picks and Predictions August 25th 2024

The forecast looks great for Sunday’s Phillies vs. Royals interleague matchup, with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s and clear skies in Kansas City, MO. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is set for 2:10 PM ET.

Philadelphia is 75-54 this season and is starting Kolby Allard, while the Royals are 72-57 and will have Seth Lugo on the mound. The money line odds have the Royals at -136 compared to the Phillies at +116. Sunday’s over/under line is at 9.5 runs, and NSPPH will be televising this one.

Kolby Allard will be making his 4th start of the season for the Phillies, and he has been solid in his first 3 outings. He has a win and a no-decision, and in his last start, he went 5 innings, giving up just 1 earned run on 6 hits. He has 3 home runs allowed on the season.

Heading into today’s game, the Phillies are 7th 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 one of the league’s top home run hitting teams and are batting .257 as a team, which is the 4th best mark in the MLB. Alec Bohm has been a great run producer for the Phillies this season, as his 85 RBIs are the best mark on the team and 11th in the league. He is also batting .292.

Over his last five games, J.T. Realmuto has gone 7/17 with two homers and nine RBIs. This has helped him put together a three-game hitting streak. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are the Phillies’ top two home run hitters this season, with Schwarber’s 28 homers leading the team and Harper’s 26 homers coming in as the 2nd best mark.

Seth Lugo gets the start for the Royals today and comes in with a record of 14-7 and an ERA of 3.02. So far this year, he has made 26 starts, and opponents are batting .221 off the right-hander. Lugo has turned in 18 quality starts this year and is coming off a game in which he pitched a complete game. In that outing, he gave up two earned runs, eight hits, and three walks. Lugo finished with eight strikeouts in the game. Looking back further, he had allowed at least four earned runs in three straight starts before the complete game.

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, putting up 5.2 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .257, which is the 4th best mark in the league. Kansas City is also one of the best teams in terms of avoiding strikeouts, as they have the 2nd fewest strikeouts in the league.

Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. have been two of the league’s top power hitters this season, with Perez’s 23 homers ranking 12th in the league and Witt Jr.’s 25 home runs putting him 11th in the league. Witt Jr. is also hitting .346 for the season, and Perez isn’t far behind at .274. Vinnie Pasquantino has been a good run producer for the Royals, as his 96 RBIs are 3rd best in the league.

The Philadelphia Phillies, riding high after a dominant offensive display, are looking to carry their momentum into the final game of their three-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon. With their eyes set on solidifying their spot at the top of the National League East, the Phillies are ready to keep their hot streak at the plate alive.

Phillies’ Offensive Surge Ignites Hope

After hitting a rough patch where they lost four of five games, the Phillies bounced back in a big way on Saturday, crushing the Royals 11-2. Philadelphia put on a show with a season-high nine extra-base hits and matched their season-best with 18 hits, highlighting the depth and power of their lineup.

Catcher J.T. Realmuto led the charge, blasting two three-run homers and racking up seven RBIs—a career-high for the seasoned veteran. His seven RBIs tied a franchise record for a catcher, a mark last set by Carlos Ruiz in 2012. Realmuto’s resurgence at the plate couldn’t come at a better time as the Phillies push towards the postseason.

Realmuto’s recent form is a promising sign, with hits in three straight games and in 10 of his last 11, underscoring his crucial role in the Phillies’ lineup.

Supporting Cast Steps Up to the Plate

Bryson Stott matched a career-high with four hits, giving the Phillies a spark at the top of the order, while Trea Turner continued his steady performance by going 3-for-5 and driving in two runs. Turner’s consistency has been a key factor in the Phillies’ offensive production, as he keeps delivering in high-pressure situations.

This offensive outburst marked only the second win for the Phillies in their last six games, suggesting a potential turning point as they look to wrap up the series with another victory.

Royals Looking to Rebound After Tough Loss

On the other side, the Kansas City Royals are hoping to bounce back after suffering just their second loss in their last nine games. Despite their recent hot streak, the Royals’ offense was stifled by the Phillies’ pitching, managing only five hits and going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Freddy Fermin provided a glimmer of hope for the Royals with an RBI single in the fifth inning and a sacrifice fly in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Phillies’ relentless attack.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro acknowledged his team’s struggles but also gave credit to the Phillies for their strong performance. “They beat us up pretty good. But we didn’t do the things we can control as well as we can do them. So, some of it is on us, some of it, you have to credit them,” Quatraro said.

Pitching Showdown: Allard vs. Lugo

For the series finale, the Phillies will hand the ball to left-hander Kolby Allard (1-0, 3.46 ERA). Allard is making his first start since August 8th, stepping in to give ace Zack Wheeler an extra day of rest. In his previous outing, Allard earned his first win since 2022, allowing just one run on six hits over five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

At 27, Allard has limited experience against the Royals, with a 4.50 ERA over two relief appearances. However, he’ll be looking to build on his recent success and secure another win for the Phillies.

The Royals will counter with right-hander Seth Lugo (14-7, 3.02 ERA), who’s having a career-best season. Lugo bounced back from a tough outing against the Minnesota Twins, where he gave up eight runs, by delivering a strong performance against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out eight over seven innings.

Lugo has a mixed history against the Phillies, with a 3-2 record and a 4.58 ERA in 34 career appearances (six starts). He’ll be eager to keep his strong form going and give the Royals a shot at claiming the series.

The Exciting Conclusion to an Interleague Showdown

As the Phillies and Royals prepare to square off in the series finale, the stakes are high for both teams. The Phillies are looking to maintain their lead in the NL East and build momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season, while the Royals aim to continue their recent resurgence and secure a series win.

With both teams featuring hot hitters and solid pitchers, Sunday’s game is shaping up to be an exciting end to this interleague battle.

The Royals on the money line is the way we are leaning in this one, and we are also leaning towards these two teams going under the over/under line of 9.5 runs. This game is projected to have the 9th fewest combined runs in today’s slate and the 3rd lowest combined strikeouts. Kansas City starter Seth Lugo has the 8th best chances to pick up a win among today’s starters.