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

The Kansas City Royals (30-50) will look to Emmanuel Rivera, who has blasted homers in two straight games, to pull off an upset win over the Houston Astros (53-28) Thursday at Minute Maid Park. The Astros and Aledmys Diaz (who has a two-game home run streak of his own) are -350 moneyline favorites for the game, which starts at 2:10 PM ET. Houston’s Justin Verlander gets the start, and he’ll go against Kansas City’s Kris Bubic.

Astros vs. Royals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Royals

After analyzing all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup, our best bet is the Royals on the moneyline at +278. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Kansas City Royals (+278) and Over (8)

Astros vs. Royals Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Justin Verlander
• Kansas City Royals probable starting pitcher: Kris Bubic
• Game Day: Thursday, July 7, 2022
• Game Time: 2:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Kansas City Royals Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Justin Verlander

• Verlander (10-3) takes the mound for the Astros in his 16th start of the season. He’s put together a 2.03 ERA in 97 1/3 innings pitched, with 90 strikeouts.
• In his most recent time out on Wednesday, June 29 against the New York Mets, the right-hander went 8 2/3 scoreless innings while surrendering two hits.
• In 15 games this season, the 39-year-old has amassed an ERA of 2.03, with 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are batting .183 against him.
• Verlander is looking to claim his third straight quality start in this outing.
• Verlander is looking for his third straight appearance lasting five or more innings. He averages 6.1 frames per appearance on the hill.
• The opposing Royals offense has a collective .240 batting average, and is 20th in the league with 648 total hits and 27th in MLB play with 316 runs scored. It has the 20th-ranked slugging percentage (.380) and ranks 24th in home runs (70) in all of MLB.
• Among pitchers who qualify in MLB play this season, the 39-year-old ranks fourth in ERA (2.03), third in WHIP (.832), and 33rd in K/9 (8.3).

Royals Starter Kris Bubic

• The Royals’ Bubic (1-5) will make his 12th start of the season.
• The left-hander gave up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched on Saturday in his last outing, a matchup with the Detroit Tigers.
• The 24-year-old has an ERA of 7.27 and 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .309 in 12 games this season.
• In 11 starts this season, he’s earned one quality start.
• In 11 starts, Bubic has pitched through or past the fifth inning four times. He has a season average of 3.2 frames per outing.
• The Astros have scored 363 runs this season, which ranks 14th in MLB. They are batting .241 for the campaign with 119 home runs, third in the league.
• The left-hander has allowed the Astros to go 5-for-20 with a double in five innings this season.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have entered the game as favorites 66 times this season and won 46, or 69.7%, of those games.
• Houston has not been a bigger favorite this season than the -350 moneyline set for this game.
• The Astros have a 77.8% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Games involving Houston have gone over the total set by bookmakers in 29 of 82 chances this season.
• The Astros are 44-38-0 ATS in their 82 games with a spread this season.

Royals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Royals have been chosen as underdogs in 70 games this year and have walked away with the win 27 times (38.6%) in those games.
• This is the worst odds of a win that sportsbooks have given Kansas City this season with a +278 moneyline set for this game.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Royals have a 26.5% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
• Kansas City and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 40 of their 83 opportunities.
• The Royals have an against the spread mark of 37-46-0 in 83 games with a line this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yordan Alvarez has accumulated a team-high batting average of .312, while pacing the Astros in home runs (25) and runs batted in (58).
• Among all MLB hitters, Alvarez ranks 12th in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage, and first in slugging.
• Alvarez has collected a hit in four games in a row. In his last five games he is batting .263 with two doubles, two home runs, four walks and two RBI.
• Kyle Tucker is hitting .262 with 11 doubles, 16 home runs and 38 walks.
• Tucker is 24th in home runs and eighth in RBI on the year.
• Tucker heads into this game looking for his fourth game in a row with a hit. During his last five outings he is batting .316 with a home run and six RBI.
• Alex Bregman is hitting .242 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 48 walks.
• Jose Altuve is hitting .278 with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 29 walks.
• Altuve brings a five-game streak with at least one hit into this one. In his last five games he is batting .429 with two doubles, a home run, three walks and three RBI.

Royals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Andrew Benintendi leads the Royals with a team-leading batting average of .316.
• In all of the big leagues, Benintendi is 255th in homers and 106th in RBI.
• Benintendi has collected a hit in four straight games. During his last five outings he is hitting .444 with two doubles, six walks and five RBI.
• Whit Merrifield is hitting .233 with 18 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 27 walks.
• Among all MLB batters, Merrifield ranks 224th in homers and 93rd in RBI.
• Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals in home runs (12) and runs batted in (42).
• Hunter Dozier is hitting .267 with 17 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 22 walks.