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Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals predictions, picks and best bets

Johnny Rosenstein  |  Sportsbook Wire

The Boston Red Sox (30-29) and the Kansas City Royals (19-40) open a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Monday: Both were off. The Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak with an 8-5 win at the New York Yankees Sunday night. The Royals, on a three-game skid, return from a 1-6 road trip through Chicago (White Sox) and Texas (Rangers).

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook; for a full-set of today's sports odds, access them at Paste BN Sports.

Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals: Projected Starting Pitchers

May 26, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (57) throws the ball during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. (Photo Credit: Troy Taormina - Paste BN Sports)

LHP Eduardo Rodriguez vs. RHP Glenn Sparkman

Rodriguez is 5-3 with a 5.04 ERA and a 66/20 K-BB ratio in 11 starts. He won his last outing, yielding just one run on four hits and a walk with five K's in six innings of a 4-1 victory at the Houston Astros May 26. He's 1-1 with a 5.96 ERA in five career starts vs. the Royals.

Sparkman is 1-1 with a 4.21 ERA and a 17/7 K-BB ratio in 10 games (two starts). He was questionably ejected in his last outing, his second start of the year, after plunking Chicago White Sox SS Tim Anderson with no outs in the bottom of the second inning last Wednesday. He did give up a two-run, first-inning HR, but the bullpen failed him after he was tossed, allowing two more earned runs. His other start of the season, vs. the visiting Tampa Bay Rays May 1, was impressive - seven scoreless innings with three hits in an 8-2 win. But he was moved back to the bullpen where he made five appearances until last week. He's struggled vs. the Red Sox in his career, yielding 10 runs and 13 hits in just 2 2/3 innings of relief for a 33.75 ERA.

Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals: By the Numbers

  • Royals SS Adalberto Mondesi leads the majors with eight triples. 2B Whit Merrifield is second with seven. Mondesi also leads the majors with 21 stolen bases.
  • Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts leads the AL in runs with 47. RF Mookie Betts is second with 45.

  • The Royals are 11-7 at home. The Red Sox are 16-17 on the road.
  • The Red Sox are 8-3 in Rodriguez's starts this year. The Royals are 1-1 in Sparkman's starts.
  • The Red Sox won last year's season series 5-1, including a three-game sweep in K.C. last July.

Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals: Key Injuries

Royals 3B Hunter Dozier (right side thorax tightness) was placed on the 10-day IL Monday, retroactive to May 31.

Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals: Picks and Betting Tips

</div> <p> <strong>Moneyline:</strong> Boston's <strong>-180</strong> is a bit costly, so avoid the MONEYLINE. Kansas City is <strong>+156</strong>.</p> <p> <strong>Run Line:</strong> The Royals have the second-worst record in the majors, making the Red Sox ( <strong>-1.5, -108</strong>) a tasty play. The Royals are <strong>+1.5, -108</strong>.</p> <p> <strong>Over/under:</strong> The <strong>OVER 10.5, -104</strong> is high for a reason and is the STRONGEST PLAY of all the options here. The Red Sox are 9-2 O/U when <strong>Rodriguez</strong> takes the mound; the Royals are 2-0 O/U with <strong>Sparkman</strong>.</p> <p> <strong>Johnny's June MLB record</strong>: 4-1. <strong>Strongest plays</strong>: 2-0.</p> <p> <em>Follow Johnny on Twitter <a rel="noopener" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JohnnyParlay11">@JohnnyParlay11</a> </em> </p> <p><strong>MORE:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/09/burmese-python-discovered-in-surprising-place/?utm_source=USATAPP&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=inline-related">Burmese python discovered in surprising place</a></p> <p><a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/09/ufc-fighter-makes-opponent-flinch-by-screaming-in-his-face-during-staredown/?utm_source=USATAPP&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=inline-related">UFC fighter makes opponent flinch by screaming in his face during staredown</a></p> <p><a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/09/rangers-mike-minor-200th-strike-out-after-not-catching-foul-ball-on-purpose/?utm_source=USATAPP&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=inline-related">Rangers ripped for not catching easy foul ball so pitcher could reach milestone</a></p> <p><a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/09/mariners-felix-hernandez-walk-off-mound-emotional/?utm_source=USATAPP&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=inline-related">See Felix Hernandez's emotional walk off the mound for the Mariners</a></p> <p><a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/09/packers-eagles-goal-line-passes/?utm_source=USATAPP&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=inline-related">Packers' puzzling goal-line decisions end in disaster</a></p></body></html>

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