Astros vs. Royals Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 7/5/2022

Following a big two-homer game last time out, MJ Melendez leads the Kansas City Royals (29-49) into action as +199 underdogs against the Houston Astros (52-27). First pitch from Minute Maid Park at 8:10 PM ET on Tuesday. Luis Garcia starts for Houston while Zack Greinke is Kansas City’s starter for the contest.

Astros vs. Royals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Royals

Our best bet is the Royals on the moneyline at +199 after digging through all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup. Our computer projects the scoring will over the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Kansas City Royals (+199) and Over (8)

Astros vs. Royals Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Luis Garcia
• Kansas City Royals probable starting pitcher: Zack Greinke
• Game Day: Tuesday, July 5, 2022
• Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Luis Garcia

• Garcia makes the start for the Astros, his 15th of the season. He is 6-5 with a 3.42 ERA and 80 strikeouts through 76 1/3 innings pitched.
• His last time out was on Thursday against the New York Yankees, when the right-hander threw 5 1/3 innings, surrendering one earned run while giving up three hits.
• In 14 games this season, the 25-year-old has an ERA of 3.42, with 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .207 against him.
• Garcia is trying to pick up his sixth quality start of the year.
• Garcia is seeking his fourth straight appearance lasting five or more innings. He averages 5.1 frames per appearance on the mound.
• The opposing Royals offense has a collective .239 batting average, and is 19th in the league with 630 total hits and 27th in MLB action with 302 runs scored. It has the 27th-ranked slugging percentage (.375) and ranks 25th in home runs (65) in all of MLB.
• Head-to-head against the Royals this season, Garcia has thrown seven innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits while striking out two.

Royals Starter Zack Greinke

• Greinke (2-4) will take to the mound for the Royals and make his 13th start of the season.
• The right-hander’s last start was on Wednesday, when he tossed 6 2/3 innings while giving up one earned run on four hits in a matchup with the Texas Rangers.
• The 38-year-old has pitched in 12 games this season with an ERA of 4.38 and 4.5 strikeouts per nine innings, with an opponent batting average of .268.
• He’s going for his third quality start in a row.
• Greinke has two starts in a row of five innings or more.
• The Astros rank 15th in MLB with a .240 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks fifth in the league (.425) and 114 home runs.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Astros have won 45 out of the 64 games, or 70.3%, in which they’ve been favored.
• Houston has a record of 3-2 in games where oddsmakers favor them by at least -243 on the moneyline.
• The oddsmakers’ moneyline implies a 70.8% chance of a victory for the Astros.
• So far this season, Houston and its opponents have hit the over in 27 of their 80 games with a total.
• The Astros are 43-37-0 against the spread in their 80 chances this season.

Royals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Royals have been underdogs in 68 games this season and have come away with the win 26 times (38.2%) in those contests.
• The Royals have won all of their three games in which they were named as at least a +199 moneyline underdog.
• The Royals have an implied victory probability of 33.4% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Kansas City’s games have gone over the total in 38 of their 81 opportunities.
• The Royals have posted a record of 36-45-0 against the spread this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Not only does Yordan Alvarez lead the Astros in hitting with his .310 average, he also is their foremost power hitter with 24 home runs and 57 RBI.
• Among all hitters in the majors, Alvarez’s home run total ranks him second, and his RBI tally puts him seventh.
• Alvarez takes a hitting streak of two games into this game. During his last five outings he is batting .294 with a double, two home runs, six walks and three RBI.
• Kyle Tucker is hitting .259 with 11 doubles, 16 home runs and 38 walks.
• Tucker is 22nd in homers and ninth in RBI among all major league batters this season.
• Jose Altuve has 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 28 walks while batting .278.
• Altuve will look to build on his four-game hitting in this game. In his last five games he is hitting .381 with two doubles, a home run, two walks and three RBI.
• Alex Bregman is hitting .237 with 16 doubles, nine home runs and 46 walks.

Royals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Whit Merrifield is hitting .231 with 18 doubles, three home runs and 27 walks, while getting on base at a rate of .286.
• Among all hitters in the big leagues, Merrifield’s home run total ranks 250th and his RBI tally is 97th.
• Merrifield carries a four-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last five games he is batting .353 with two doubles, five walks and an RBI.
• Andrew Benintendi is hitting .314 to lead the lineup.
• Among all MLB hitters, Benintendi ranks 250th in home runs and 116th in RBI.
• Bobby Witt Jr. paces the Royals in home runs (11) and runs batted in (39).
• Hunter Dozier is batting .263 with 16 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 21 walks.