Arizona Diamondbacks (55-66) vs. Kansas City Royals (50-74)
It is the final contest of a two-game set when the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Tuesday night’s contest was not concluded by the time this preview was written.
Arizona is hanging on by a thread to their slim playoff hopes as they enter the series 4-6 in their last 10 and are 11.5 games out for the final wildcard spot in the National League. The Kansas City Royals have long been eliminated, entering Tuesday night’s game 17.0 games out in the wildcard and 16.0 games out for the AL Central lead. They are 3-7 in their last 10 entering the series.
These teams played a two-game series in Phoenix back in May, with the Diamondbacks winning both contests. Arizo na enters as the favorite at -125 with the line set for Kansas City at +105. The total is at 7.5 (over: -110, under: -110).
Things were looking good for Arizona, as they were 9-5 in their last 14 games entering a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at home over the weekend. However, the club took it on the chin, losing all three games by a combined score of 27-12. That moved Arizona nearly a dozen games behind Philadelphia for the final wildcard spot with 41 games left in the season.
They got three, so we got three. ????? pic.twitter.com/giVgzVChO0
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 21, 2022
The 27 runs allowed to St. Louis was surprising, especially considering that the team had allowed 32 runs combined in their previous 11 games. The onslaught by the Cardinals increased the earned run average of Arizona to 4.14 in August, slightly better than the 4.18 team ERA for the season. Zac Gallen has become the ace of the staff, posting a 9-2 record with a 2.78 ERA in 23 starts. Gallen is on a roll of late, going three straight starts, 21.1 innings, without giving up a run, allowing nine hits and three walks.
Arizona is averaging 4.34 runs per game thanks, in large part, to the fact that the club is 14th in home runs with 131. The numbers are down a little bit in August, as they have 18 home runs in 20 games, but have still produced 89 runs for 4.45 runs per game average. That has helped t he club go 10-10 this month.