The Kansas City Royals (75-60) and Houston Astros (72-62) play the 2nd game of a 4-game set at Minute Maid Park Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s'lines around the Royals vs. Astros odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Royals lead 3-1
The Astros won 6-3 as -157 favorites in the Thursday opener as the Over (7.5) hit. Houston took advantage of 2 Kansas City errors in the 8th, resulting in a 4-run inning for the Astros. Houston has a 4-game lead over the 2nd-place Seattle Mariners in the AL West and is -750 to win the division at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Royals RP'Lucas Erceg (Loss, 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K) bobbled a comebacker for the 1st Kansas City error of the 8th inning Thursday. Later in the inning, a fielding error from LF MJ Melendez allowed Astros SS'Jeremy Pena to score Houston’s 6th and final run. Kansas City is 2nd in the AL Central, 1.5 games back of the division-leading Cleveland Guardians, and is in the 2nd AL Wild Card.