Astros vs. Royals Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 7/4/2022

After a four-hit game in a win over the Angels, Jeremy Pena leads the Houston Astros (51-27) as -230 favorites against the Kansas City Royals (29-48). Action gets underway from Minute Maid Park at 4:10 PM ET on Monday. Houston’s Jake Odorizzi and Kansas City’s Jonathan Heasley have been named the starters for this contest.

Astros vs. Royals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Royals

After digging through all of the key trends and stats for this matchup, our best bet is the Royals on the moneyline at +195. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going over the total of 9 runs.

Our computer pick: Kansas City Royals (+195) and Over (9)

Astros vs. Royals Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Jake Odorizzi
• Kansas City Royals probable starting pitcher: Jonathan Heasley
• Game Day: Monday, July 4, 2022
• Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Jake Odorizzi

• Odorizzi makes his first start of the season for the Astros.
• It’s the season debut and his first appearance in more than a year for the 32-year-old righty.
• The Royals are 27th in MLB play with 296 runs scored this season, and are batting .239 with 63 home runs (26th in baseball).

Royals Starter Jonathan Heasley

• The Royals will hand the ball to Jon Heasley (1-4) for his 10th start of the season.
• The right-hander’s last start was on Wednesday, when he tossed 3 2/3 innings while giving up seven earned runs on nine hits in a matchup with the Texas Rangers.
• The 25-year-old has pitched in nine games this season with an ERA of 5.20, a 1.458 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.511.
• He has started nine games this season, earning a quality start (6 or more IP, 3 or fewer ER) in three of them.
• Heasley has started nine games this season, and he’s lasted five or more innings six times. He averages 5.0 innings per appearance.
• The Astros rank 16th in MLB with a .240 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks fifth in the league (.425) and 113 home runs.
• The Astros have gone 7-for-23 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and three RBI in six innings this season against the right-hander.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have won 44, or 69.8%, of the 63 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Houston has a record of 7-2 in games where bookmakers favor them by at least -230 on the moneyline.
• The Astros have a 69.7% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Houston’s games have gone over the total in 26 of their 79 chances.
• The Astros are 43-36-0 against the spread in their 79 chances this season.

Royals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Royals have been victorious in 26, or 38.8%, of the 67 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
• Kansas City has been listed as an underdog of +195 or more on two occasions this season and lost both games.
• Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Royals have a 33.9% chance of pulling out a win.
• Kansas City and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 37 of their 80 opportunities.
• The Royals have an against the spread mark of 35-45-0 in 80 games with a line this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yordan Alvarez has a team-high batting average of .310, and leads the Astros in home runs (23) and runs batted in (56).
• Of all hitters in MLB, Alvarez’s home run total ranks him second, and his RBI tally ranks him seventh.
• Kyle Tucker is batting .258 with 11 doubles, 16 home runs and 38 walks.
• Tucker is 20th in home runs and 10th in RBI in the majors.
• Jose Altuve is hitting .280 with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 28 walks.
• Altuve has at least one base hit in three games in a row. During his last five outings he is hitting .368 with two doubles, a home run, two walks and two RBI.
• Alex Bregman is batting .239 with 16 doubles, nine home runs and 44 walks.

Royals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Whit Merrifield is batting .228 with 17 doubles, three home runs and 27 walks.
• Merrifield ranks 250th in homers and 93rd in RBI among all batters in MLB.
• Merrifield has collected a hit in three games in a row. In his last five games he is batting .267 with a double, five walks and an RBI.
• Bobby Witt Jr. been a consistent power bat this season, as he paces his team with 11 home runs and 39 RBI.
• Witt Jr. is 57th overall in home runs and 54th in RBI this season.
• Andrew Benintendi has racked up a team-best batting average of .308.
• Hunter Dozier has 16 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 21 walks while hitting .263.