After a dominating 10-4 win in Game 1, the Kansas City Royals bats look ready to rock Los Angeles Angels pitcher Griffin Canning in Game 2, where my Royals vs. Angels predictions will be focused.
The MLB odds have the Royals as a -125 moneyline favorite on the road for the second game of a four-game series against the struggling Angels.
Find out where my best bets lie in our MLB picks for Friday, May 10.
Royals vs Angels prediction
My best bet
Bobby Witt Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (-125 at bet365)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
It’s been a trying season for the Angels, as most are, and now they’re in the middle of a 5-15 stretch and without Mike Trout. Things are only getting tougher, as showcased in the loss to the Royals on Thursday.
With the struggling Griffin Canning taking the mound on Friday, Los Angeles could find itself in a hole early against a Royals lineup with two of the hottest bats in baseball.
One such bat belongs to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who leads the team in hits (48), doubles (11), triples (5), SLG (.556), and OPS (.945). He’s added the second-most home runs on the team (5) and the second-highest batting average (.318), too.
The 23-year-old is poised to make his first All-Star team this season and already sits third in the AL MVP odds race. Meanwhile, Canning is off to a horrendous start with a 6.69 ERA in seven starts.
Canning’s allowed 37 hits and six home runs across 35 innings, and matches up terribly with Witt. With four pitches he uses more than 15% of the time, Witt hits them all well and should have Canning in for a long day.
Canning’s favorite pitch is his four-seamer (33.9% of the time), a pitch Witt has mashed this season with a .314 average and .686 SLG — he’s hit four doubles, four triples, and three home runs off fastballs.
If Canning is hoping to get some relief with the other pitches in his arsenal, it’s not happening. His slider (24.7%) might be the pitch Witt is hitting most consistently with his .364 average and .591 SLG.
Beyond those two pitches, Canning has his changeup (21.7%) and curveball (15.7%). While Witt has struggled somewhat with changeups this season, it was the pitch he hammered hardest last year with a .387 average, .694 SLG, and run value of 11.
As for the curveball, his SLG is .583 against them this year, and he has four doubles and two home runs against breaking balls already this season.
Royals vs Angels same-game parlay (SGP)
Bobby Witt Jr. Over 1.5 total bases
Salvador Perez Over 0.5 hits
Taylor Ward Over 0.5 hits
Witt isn’t the only Royals bat playing at an All-Star level this season, eight-time All-Star Salvador Perez is right there with him. The 34-year-old is fourth in the AL in batting average (.328) and has recorded a hit in 28 of 37 games this season.
It won’t all be Royals dominance though, 30-year-old Taylor Ward has been the Angels’ most consistent bat this season with a team-best 39 hits and 67 total bases. He’s hitting better than .300 against three of Alex Marsh’s top four pitches.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Royals vs Angels odds
Royals vs Angels live odds
Royals vs Angels opening odds
- Run line: Kansas City -1.5 (+133) | Los Angeles +1.5 (-148)
- Moneyline: Kansas City -122 | Los Angeles +113
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-114) | Under 8.5 (+102)
Royals vs Angels spread and Over/Under analysis
- While the Royals opened as a moneyline favorite at some books, a few opened with both Kansas City and LA -110. The line has since shifted in the Boys in Blue’s direction with them between -122 and -133.
- Kansas City has been one of the best teams in the AL this season at 23-16, while the Angels have been one of the worst at 14-24.
- The Over/Under opened at 8.5 and hasn’t budged. The Under can be had at even money, or even plus-money, at a few books.
- The Royals are among the worst Over betting teams this season at 14-23-2, but the Angels are one of the best at 20-17-1.
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Royals vs Angels trend
The Royals have hit the moneyline in 12 of their last 17 games (+13.10 Units / 77% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. Angels
Royals vs Angels game info
| Location: | Angel Stadium, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Friday, 5-10-2024 |
| First pitch: | 9:38 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Apple TV+ |
| Royals starting pitcher: | Alec Marsh (3-0, 2.70 ERA) |
| Angels starting pitcher: | Griffin Canning (1-4, 6.69 ERA) |
Royals vs Angels latest injuries
Royals vs Angels weather
Not intended for use in MA.
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