Kansas City Royals vs. San Francisco Giants Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/15/2022

Time: 3:45 p.m. ET

Venue: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA

Where to watch: Bally Sports Kansas City, NBC Sports Bay Area

DraftKings: NL

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: NL

Royals: 20-41

Giants: 35-26

It is getting fairly sad at this point to watch the Kansas City Royals play baseball. And I think we all went into this season believing that they would finally turn the corner and capitalize off what was a very solid year last year. But as we continue to watch the Royals progress, I think we are starting to see how last year was a lightning in a bottle moment for the Royals because of Salvador Perez becoming what he was as a bona fide power hitter.

Unfortunately, that progression from the All Star catcher has not translated to this year. And as a result the Royals continue to find themselves spiraling downward in a way that I don't even think any of us envisioned. Now they go up against the San Francisco Giants in a three game series, and suddenly things are even worse then we anticipated.

Kansas City has now last 41 games this year, compared to only 20 victories, after losing 4-2 to the Giants in San Francisco on Tuesday. San Francisco will have a chance to complete the sweep on Wednesday and at this point I would be shocked if San Francisco just completely forgot how to play baseball going into this game.

Because even when the giants are not scoring runs at a ridiculous rate, we are reminded once again that the pitching staff of San Francisco continues to be out of this world. Logan Webb won his sixth game of the season going seven innings and striking out nine and was able to keep Kansas City off the scoreboard long enough before San Francisco scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, which allowed the starting pitcher to go into the 7th and secure the victory.

Wilmer Flores scored on an RBI single in the 6th, and the giants added two more with a another single and a sacrifice fly. The Royals were able to cut into the lead in the top of the eighth when Bobby Witt Jr. hit a sacrifice fly, and then Perez added an RBI single to make it three to two. Unfortunately that was all they were able to get in that situation.

As a result, San Francisco has now won five straight which includes a  3-game sweep over the Los Angeles Dodgers and are now one win away from securing another sweep, albeit against a much inferior team in Kansas City.

It has just gotten so depressing watching the Royals play. Given how semi wide open the American League central race is, I thought if you were looking for a team that could make some noise and scare some people, it would have to have been Kansas City. But alas, Kansas City has gone with the youth movement and it might be another couple of years before we actually see them play meaningful baseball. And to me that is just sad.

Don't overthink this one period this is going to come down to the Royals ultimately finding a way to lose this game, and I think San Francisco might be able to take a nap in between and still find a way to win because Kansas City is just that bad. Giants win 5-0

Royals are 54-84 on the road over the past three seasons.

Royals are 14-29 this season against right-handed starters.

Giants are 90-55 at home the past three seasons.

Giants are 29-17 in inter-league games the past three seasons.

Royals:
Whit Merrifield (R) 2B
Andrew Benintendi (L) LF
Bobby Witt Jr. (R) SS
Salvador Perez (R) C
MJ Melendez (L) DH
Carlos Santana (S) 1B
Kyle Isbel (L) RF
Michael A. Taylor (R) CF
Nicky Lopez (L) 3B
SP - Jonathan Heasley

Giants:
Austin Slater (R) CF
Wilmer Flores (R) 3B
Joc Pederson (L) LF
Darin Ruf (R) 1B
Evan Longoria (R) DH
Brandon Crawford (L) SS
Thairo Estrada (R) 2B
Austin Wynns (R) C
Luis Gonzalez (L) RF
SP - TBD

Batting average: Andrew Benintendi -- .298

Home runs: Salvador Perez -- 9

RBI: Bobby Witt Jr. -- 32

Wins: Collin Snider -- 4

ERA: Brad Keller -- 4.74

Batting average: Mike Yastrzemski -- .275

Home runs: Joc Pederson -- 13

RBI: Wilmer Flores -- 34

Wins: Logan Webb -- 6

ERA: Carlos Rodon -- 3.18