Royals vs. Athletics Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, May 5, 2023

May 5, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Oakland Athletics (6-26) hope to avoid their fourth straight defeat when they visit the Kansas City Royals (8-24) Friday at 8:10 PM ET on BSKC. The Royals are listed as -143 favorites, while the Athletics are +122 underdogs as they try to snap their losing skid.

Brad Keller takes the mound for Kansas City while Kyle Muller is Oakland’s starter for the contest.

Royals vs. Athletics Odds

Royals odds to win: -143
Athletics odds to win: +122
Spread: Royals -1.5
Total: 10 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Friday, May 5, 2023
Time: 8:10 PM ET
TV: BSKC

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Who Will Win Royals vs. Athletics?

Royals and Athletics Betting Trends

The Royals have been listed as the moneyline favorite just one other time so far this season, a game they lost.

Kansas City has ynot played as moneyline favorites of -143 or shorter.

The Athletics have won six, or 18.8%, of the 32 games they’ve played as underdogs this season.

Oakland has entered 28 games this season as the underdog by +122 or more and is 6-22 in those contests.

The Royals have combined with opponents to hit the over on the total 16 times this season for a 16-14-2 record against the over/under.

The Athletics’ games have gone over the total in 20 of their 32 chances.

Royals Stats & Insights

The Royals rank 25th in runs scored with 119, 3.7 per game.

Kansas City is 23rd in baseball with 28 home runs. They average 0.9 per game.

The Royals rank 24th in MLB with a .231 batting average.

Kansas City’s nine strikeouts per game rank 22nd in baseball.

The 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings put together by the Royals pitching staff ranks 16th in the majors.

Kansas City has a 5.64 team ERA that ranks 29th across all MLB pitching staffs.

Athletics Stats & Insights

The Athletics have scored 119 runs (3.7 per game) this season, which ranks 25th in MLB.

Oakland has hit 34 homers this season, which ranks 19th in the majors.

The Athletics have a team batting average of just .224 this season, which ranks 28th among MLB teams.

Oakland ranks 26th in strikeouts per game (9.4) among MLB offenses.

The Athletics strike out just 7.6 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, which ranks 29th in MLB.

Oakland has the 30th-ranked ERA (7.37) in the majors this season.

Royals Key Players to Watch

Keller gets the start for the Royals, his seventh of the season. He is 2-2 with a 3.56 ERA and 24 strikeouts through 30 1/3 innings pitched.

Vinnie Pasquantino is batting .288 this season with six home runs, both best among Kansas City hitters.

Bobby Witt Jr. has collected 31 hits this season and has an OBP of .281. He’s slugging .435 on the year.

Salvador Perez leads Kansas City in home runs (six) and runs batted in (18) this season while batting .268.

Edward Olivares has collected 24 hits this season and has an OBP of .327. He’s slugging .444 on the year.

Athletics Key Players to Watch

Muller (0-2) will take to the mound for the Athletics and make his seventh start of the season.

Brent Rooker has put up a team-best nine home runs and 22 runs batted in.

Esteury Ruiz has a club-high .265 batting average.

Shea Langeliers is batting .208 with two doubles, a triple, six home runs and seven walks.

Tony Kemp is hitting .167 with three doubles, a home run and 12 walks.

Royals and Athletics Injuries

Royals: Nicky Lopez: 10 Day IL (Appendicitis), Kyle Isbel: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Drew Waters: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Daniel Lynch: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Kris Bubic: 60 Day IL (Flexor), Jake Brentz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Angel Zerpa: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Diego Hernandez: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)

Athletics: Aledmys Díaz: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Seth Brown: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Manny Piña: 10 Day IL (Wrist), Trevor May: 15 Day IL (Personal), Adrian Martinez: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Paul Blackburn: 15 Day IL (Finger), Dany Jimenez: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Freddy Tarnok: 60 Day IL (Undisclosed), Kirby Snead: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)