Kansas City Royals vs Boston Red Sox Picks and Predictions August 5th 2024

Royals send red-hot Brady Singer to face Red Sox

Both the Red Sox and Royals will be looking to move up in the standings, as they are 3rd in the AL East and AL Central, respectively. Boston has a record of 59-51, while the Royals are 63-50. The money line odds have the Royals at -145, while the Red Sox are the slight underdog at +123. This game’s over/under line is currently 9.5 runs, and the forecasted temperature in Kansas City is 100 degrees with clear skies.

Monday’s starting pitching matchup features James Paxton for the Red Sox and Brady Singer for the Royals. BSKC will be televising this one, and the game is set to get started at 8:10 PM ET from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.

Boston vs. Kansas City Key Information

• Teams: Red Sox at Royals
• Where: Kauffman Stadium Kansas City
• Date: Monday, August 5th
• Betting Odds KC -145 | BOS +123 O/U 9.5

The Red Sox Can Win If…

James Paxton gets the start for the Red Sox today as he faces the Royals on the road. So far this season, he has made 19 starts and has a record of 8-3 with an ERA of 4.52. Looking at his overall numbers, Paxton has a WHIP of 1.46 and opponents are batting .244 this season. In his 19 starts, he has turned in six quality starts and is averaging 6.63 strikeouts per nine innings. The left-hander’s last outing came on July 30th, where he took the loss, giving up three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts.

So far this season, the Red Sox offense has been one of the best in the league, as they are 4th in runs per game (4.9), and are the league’s 2nd best hitting team with a team batting average of .262. They have also been one of the best power-hitting teams in the league, with their 140 home runs being the 6th most in the league. Boston’s team OPS of .772 is the 2nd best mark in the MLB.

Rafael Devers comes into the game on an 11-game hitting streak, and over his last nine games, he has gone 16/39 with two homers and seven RBIs. For the season, Devers is batting .305 with 25 homers, which is the best mark on the team and 7th best in the league. Tyler O’Neill and Jarren Duran have also been key power sources for the Red Sox, as O’Neill has 22 homers, and Duran has 14.

• The Red Sox are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Red Sox are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Boston has an over/under record of 9-1 in their last ten games.
• The Red Sox have an average of 6.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Red Sox are 4-6
• Looking back across the Red Sox last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Boston has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Red Sox have averaged 5.9 runs per game on offense

The Royals Can Win If…

Brady Singer has been pitching well for the Royals, coming into the game with a record of 8-6 and an ERA of 2.88. He has made 22 starts this year and has turned in 10 quality starts. Singer’s WHIP for the season is 1.16, and opponents are batting .229 off the right-hander this year. In his last outing, Singer went seven innings, giving up three earned runs and picking up the win. Before that, he had back-to-back outings without giving up an earned run. The right-hander has won three straight starts. Singer’s ERA at home is 2.33 compared to 4.43 on the road.

So far this season, the Royals are averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 9th in the league. They have been even better at home, putting up 5.2 runs per contest. As a team, the Royals are batting .253, which is the 8th best mark in the league, and they also do a great job of putting the ball in play, as they have the fewest strikeouts in the league.

Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez are both tied for the team lead with 20 home runs, with Witt Jr. batting .344 for the season and Perez at .279. Vinnie Pasquantino has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 9/27 over his last six games with four homers.

• The Royals are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Royals are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Kansas City has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Royals have an average of 6.8 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 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Royals have averaged 5.6 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For a money-line pick, we would be leaning toward taking the Red Sox to come out on top. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is projected to be the 6th highest-scoring game of the day. However, this one doesn’t figure to have a ton of hits, as it has the 3rd lowest combined hits projection. Brady Singer has the 5th best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters, but we like James Paxton’s strikeout potential for the Red Sox.

The Kansas City Royals are counting on right-hander Brady Singer to maintain his impressive form as they open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. Singer, who has been red-hot since the All-Star break, brings a 3-0 record and a 2.88 ERA into the matchup. He has shown remarkable consistency by going seven innings in each of his last three starts, allowing a total of just three runs.

A New Dimension in Pitching

Singer attributes his recent success to a refined pitching strategy that includes a mix of two-seam fastballs, sliders, and sweepers. The two-seamer has been particularly effective, generating significant movement and enabling him to control the game against both left-handed and right-handed hitters.

“The two-seamer was really good,” Singer noted after a dominant performance against the Chicago Cubs. “It had a lot of movement. That was the pitch tonight that was really helping me out.”

The introduction of the sweeper pitch has added a new dimension to Singer’s game, giving hitters a different look than the traditional slider. This strategic change has been instrumental in his ability to dominate opponents since the All-Star break.

Facing the Red Sox Again

Singer has a mixed track record against the Red Sox. In three career starts, he has a 2-1 record with a 4.11 ERA. However, his most recent outing against Boston, which occurred at Fenway Park in July, saw him struggle to find his rhythm, allowing four runs on eight hits in just 2 2/3 innings. Singer will be looking to rectify this and demonstrate his improved form against a potent Red Sox lineup.

James Paxton and the Red Sox’s Defensive Struggles

On the mound for the Red Sox is left-hander James Paxton, who has faced challenges of his own. Paxton has not completed more than five innings in his last six starts, posting a 6.67 ERA over that stretch. Despite his struggles, Paxton remains a seasoned pitcher with a history of success against the Royals, holding a 4-1 record and a 2.57 ERA in nine starts against them.

A Fresh Start in Boston

Paxton recently rejoined the Red Sox after being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline. His return to Boston comes with the expectation of stabilizing a rotation that needs reliability. However, his recent outing against the Seattle Mariners was marred by defensive errors, which contributed to his less-than-stellar performance.

“Good fastball, good breaking ball,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Paxton’s recent performance. “Obviously, we didn’t play good defense behind him.”

Paxton’s ability to regain his form is critical for the Red Sox as they seek to overcome their defensive lapses and build momentum in the second half of the season.

The Red Sox Offensive Force

The Boston Red Sox have been an offensive powerhouse since the All-Star break, consistently putting up impressive numbers. In 11 of their last 15 games, the Red Sox have scored at least six runs, showcasing the depth and talent of their lineup.

Jarren Duran Leading the Charge

One of the standout performers for Boston is Jarren Duran, who has emerged as a key player in the team’s offense. Duran, the All-Star Game MVP, has been on a hot streak, hitting safely in 16 of his last 17 games with a .403 batting average. His performance has been instrumental in Boston’s recent success, and he continues to be a vital part of the team’s young core.

“I feel like we’re such a young group,” Duran said, reflecting on the team’s resilience. “We’re just always ready to fight. We’ve been down a lot and come back in a lot of games. That’s something we’re going to be able to have in our back pocket down the long stretch.”

Youthful Contributions

The Red Sox’s lineup is further bolstered by young talents like Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu. Rafaela’s versatility in playing both center field and shortstop, coupled with his recent offensive strides, adds depth to the team. Meanwhile, Abreu has demonstrated his power-hitting abilities, hitting .400 with 13 RBIs over his last ten games.

“What (Rafaela is) doing is very unique,” Cora noted. “To play center and to play shortstop a lot, that’s very unique. And offensively, he’s making strides. He’s getting better.”

Both Rafaela and Abreu have provided crucial sparks to the Red Sox offense, making them formidable opponents for any team.

Conclusion: A Clash of Rising Talent and Veteran Savvy

As the Royals and Red Sox prepare to face off, the matchup promises to be a compelling contest of pitching prowess and offensive strength. Brady Singer’s recent form presents a significant challenge to the Red Sox hitters, while James Paxton’s quest for redemption adds intrigue to the pitching duel. Meanwhile, Boston’s young core, led by Jarren Duran, seeks to continue their offensive success.

With both teams bringing their own strengths and challenges into the series, the opener between the Royals and the Red Sox is set to be an exciting game filled with high stakes and potential surprises. Baseball fans will be watching closely to see if Singer can extend his winning streak or if the Red Sox’s potent offense will prevail.

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