- What: MLB Regular Season Game
- When: Tuesday, June 18
- Who: KC Royals vs. Oakland A’s
- Tip-off: 9:40 p.m. ET
- Where: Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland)
The Kansas City Royals (41-32) will face the Oakland Athletics (26-48) as both teams seek to end their current slumps.
The Royals, currently second in the AL Central, are a shining example of resilience and progress. Despite trailing the surging Cleveland Indians by five games, they hold the fifth-best record in the American League.
Kansas City Royals
This is a significant improvement from their 56-106 season last year, a testament to their determination and hard work. The Kansas City Royals’ turnaround can be attributed mainly to the emergence of key organizational players.
Bobby Witt Jr., a young talent at just 24 years old, leads MLB with a .327 average. His potential and performance are a source of excitement and intrigue for the team and the fans and a beacon of hope for the future of the Kansas City Royals.
Birthday Bobby!
Bobby Witt Jr. makes an incredible retreating catch and the @Royals turn two! pic.twitter.com/sSQnxOPZs7
— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2024
He is also tied for 7th in RBIs (51) and OPS (.928), and he shares the team lead in home runs (11) with Salvador Perez, establishing himself as the Royals’ franchise shortstop of the future.
Alec Marsh, who will be starting for the Kansas City Royals, aims to extend his three-game winning streak. This will be a crucial game for him, as he will face a struggling athletics team.
Marsh has been consistent overall, but his performance dips on the road, evidenced by his last road start, where he gave up five earned runs in seven innings.
With some bullpen injuries, Marsh is expected to pitch deep into the game, supported by the Royals’ recent offensive success.
Oakland A’s
The Oakland Athletics, currently last in the American League West, face significant challenges.
Despite their efforts to avoid having the worst record in the league this year, the team is on a nine-game losing streak, having lost several close games. This situation calls for empathy and understanding from the audience.
Brent Rooker has been their standout performer, with 13 home runs and a team-leading 41 RBIs.
Abraham Toro leads the team in batting average, but the Athletics have struggled with outfield defense and finishing games with their bullpen.
Tyler Solo-strom ???? pic.twitter.com/V97sB1b7Xs
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) June 17, 2024
Hogan Harris will seek his first win as a starter this season. Despite keeping games close, giving up just three earned runs over his last three starts, Harris’ last start was limited to five innings, where he allowed two earned runs via home runs.
He has performed better on the road in relief roles, so his performance at home against the Royals will be pivotal.
The Royals have the pitching advantage with veteran starter Alec Marsh, capable of another deep outing.
Harris, still finding his footing as a starter, may struggle against the Royals’ strong hitters, especially with Bobby Witt Jr. leading the charge.
The Athletics have been scoring runs lately, but their bullpen has failed to prevent opponents from scoring, which has been costly.
Royals-A’s Best Bet
For our best bet, we’re backing the Kansas City Royals on the moneyline.
While Hogan Harris may have a solid start, the Athletics’ unreliable bullpen makes it difficult to trust them, given their recent history of conceding late runs. Expect the Royals to start this series strong.
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