Royals vs. Nationals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, May 26, 2023

May 26, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Kansas City Royals (15-36) are favored on the moneyline (-112) in Friday’s contest versus the Washington Nationals (21-29). Game time is at 8:10 PM ET on BSKC. The Nationals, with +152 odds, are favored against the spread (1.5).

Jordan Lyles takes the mound for Kansas City while Patrick Corbin is Washington’s starter for the contest.

Royals vs. Nationals Odds

Royals odds to win: -112
Nationals odds to win: -108
Spread: Nationals -1.5
Total: 9.5 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Friday, May 26, 2023
Time: 8:10 PM ET
TV: BSKC

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Who Will Win Royals vs. Nationals?

Royals and Nationals Betting Trends

The Royals have gone 1-5 in games they were listed as the moneyline favorite (winning 16.7% of those games).

When it has played as moneyline favorites with odds of -112 or shorter, Kansas City has gone 1-5 (16.7%).

This season, the Nationals have been the underdog 47 times and won 18, or 38.3%, of those games.

Washington has entered 47 games this season as the underdog by -108 or more and is 18-29 in those contests.

The Royals have played in 50 games with an over/under set, and have combined with their opponents to go over the total 23 times (23-25-2).

The Nationals’ games have gone over the total in 22 of their 49 chances.

Royals Stats & Insights

The Royals score the fifth-fewest runs in baseball (198 total, 3.9 per game).

Kansas City is 22nd in MLB action with 49 total home runs.

The Royals’ .229 batting average ranks 25th in the majors.

Kansas City strikes out 8.9 times per game, the No. 24 mark in MLB.

The pitching staff for the Royals has a collective 8.8 K/9, which ranks 14th in the majors.

Kansas City has a 5.14 team ERA that ranks 29th among all MLB pitching staffs.

Nationals Stats & Insights

The Nationals have scored the 23rd-most runs in the league this season with 208 (4.2 per game).

Washington ranks 29th in Major League Baseball with just 36 home runs as a team.

The Nationals have a team batting average of .265 this season, which ranks third among MLB teams.

Washington has shown good bat-to-ball skills at the plate this season with the second-best strikeout rate (7.1 per game) among MLB offenses.

The Nationals strike out just 7.5 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, worst in MLB.

Washington pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.46 ERA this year, which ranks 20th in MLB.

Royals Key Players to Watch

Lyles makes the start for the Royals, his 11th of the season. He is 0-8 with a 6.99 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings pitched.

Vinnie Pasquantino is batting .262 with nine home runs and 24 RBI for Kansas City this season.

Salvador Perez is batting .280 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI, all three of which lead Kansas City this season.

Bobby Witt Jr. is slashing .227/.265/.401 this season for the Royals.

Edward Olivares has 32 hits and an OBP of .304 to go with a slugging percentage of .385 this season.

Nationals Key Players to Watch

Corbin (3-5) will take to the mound for the Nationals and make his 11th start of the season.

Lane Thomas leads the Nationals in home runs (seven) and runs batted in (25).

Jeimer Candelario has 14 doubles, a triple, six home runs and 13 walks while batting .258.

Luis Garcia has five doubles, a triple, three home runs and 12 walks while batting .262.

Joey Meneses has 25 RBI while batting .298. Both lead his team.

Royals and Nationals Injuries

Royals: Kyle Isbel: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Brad Keller: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Daniel Lynch: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Ryan Yarbrough: 60 Day IL (Head), Kris Bubic: 60 Day IL (Flexor), Jake Brentz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Angel Zerpa: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Diego Hernandez: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)

Nationals: Victor Robles: 10 Day IL (Back), Israel Pineda: 10 Day IL (Finger), Stephen Strasburg: 60 Day IL (Ribs/shoulder), Tanner Rainey: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Cade Cavalli: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Victor Arano: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)