TOM'S MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE GAME OF THE WEEK
- Handicapper
- Tom Stryker
- League
- MLB
- Competition
- Kansas City Royals vs Oakland Athletics
- Time
- 06/18/2024 09:40 PM
- Bet Type
- Moneyline
- Pick
-
Kansas City Royals -129
(BetOnline)
- Outcome
- Loss
- Analysis
- #923 KANSAS CITY with Marsh (-) over Oakland with Harris at 9:40 PM EST
Off the shutout road loss to the Dodgers on Sunday and a day of rest, the Royals will have no trouble pounding the Athletics in this American League mismatch. Kansas City is currently sitting in second place in the AL Central (5.0-games back) and manager Matt Quatraro will have his boys ready to go in this spot.
Surging right-hander Alec Marsh will toe the rubber for the road squad. With 12 starts completed this year, No. 48 has allowed 27 earned runs and 54 hits in 67.0 innings of work. Alec whiffed 61 and walked 19 on his way to a 5-3 record with a 3.63 ERA. Even better, with the moon out, Marsh has been at his best allowing only five earned runs and 16 hits in 28.1 frames. After the math, that adds up to a golden 3-0 mark with an elite 1.59 ERA.
Left-hander Hogan Harris will take the mound for the home team. So far this year, No. 63 has appeared in five games (three starts) and been cracked for seven earned runs and 19 hits in 25.1 innings. Hogan struck out 23 and walked nine on his way to a 2.49 ERA. Overall, with 19 trips to the mound in his career (nine starts), Harris has been hammered for 57 earned runs and 86 hits in 88.1 frames. That shakes down to a 3-6 record with a soft 5.81 ERA.
On a technical note, Oakland has fallen in 46 of its last 65 when priced as an underdog, 122 of its last 172 when facing a right-handed starter, 50 of its last 64 coming off a tough loss of two runs or less, and 113 of its last 159 when coming off a blemish.
The Royals have a decisive edge on the hill and that will prove to be the difference. Take Kansas City with Marsh. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
