PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's Run Line Game of the Year
(MLB) Kansas City vs. LA Dodgers,
Point Spread: 1.50 | -120.00 Kansas City (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 1.50 | -120.00 Kansas City (Away)
Result: Win
The Dodgers are the hottest team in baseball going 24-4 in their last 28 games.
So why try to buck them here? Let me state the reasons:
The Royals may be the second-hottest team at 18-7 in their last 25 games. They are 11-4 in their last 15 road games.
The Royals have the hotter starting pitcher going.
Kansas City needs this game knowing it faces Clayton Kershaw and a likely loss on Sunday.
Oh, yes, I'm taking 1 1/2 runs with the visiting Royals. The Dodgers would be 1-4 in their last five games if laying 1 1/2 runs. Each of their last three victories have been by exactly one run.
Ian Kennedy, a native of Southern California, is pitching for the Royals. He is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in his last four starts. Kennedy is overlooked, but he has been outstanding. Kennedy hasn't surrendered more than six hits during any of his 15 starts. He's holding opponents to a .201 batting average, fourth-best in baseball behind only Max Scherzer, Kershaw and Chris Sale. Those are the three best pitchers in the majors.
Kansas City has won each of Kennedy's past five road starts, too.
The Dodgers are pitching righy Brandon McCarthy. He's been on the DL with a knee strain since June 25. McCarthy looked terrible in his last start, which came at home against Colorado. McCarthy only went three innings giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks. He also uncorked three wild pitches in one inning. There's a huge question mark about McCarthy's effectiveness now. He shouldn't be this high of a favorite - and taking 1 1/2 runs is added insurance.
McCarthy has a 4.05 career ERA against the Royals in 14 appearances, including six starts. Kansas City has won 12 of the last 17 times it has faced a right-handed starter.
So why try to buck them here? Let me state the reasons:
The Royals may be the second-hottest team at 18-7 in their last 25 games. They are 11-4 in their last 15 road games.
The Royals have the hotter starting pitcher going.
Kansas City needs this game knowing it faces Clayton Kershaw and a likely loss on Sunday.
Oh, yes, I'm taking 1 1/2 runs with the visiting Royals. The Dodgers would be 1-4 in their last five games if laying 1 1/2 runs. Each of their last three victories have been by exactly one run.
Ian Kennedy, a native of Southern California, is pitching for the Royals. He is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in his last four starts. Kennedy is overlooked, but he has been outstanding. Kennedy hasn't surrendered more than six hits during any of his 15 starts. He's holding opponents to a .201 batting average, fourth-best in baseball behind only Max Scherzer, Kershaw and Chris Sale. Those are the three best pitchers in the majors.
Kansas City has won each of Kennedy's past five road starts, too.
The Dodgers are pitching righy Brandon McCarthy. He's been on the DL with a knee strain since June 25. McCarthy looked terrible in his last start, which came at home against Colorado. McCarthy only went three innings giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks. He also uncorked three wild pitches in one inning. There's a huge question mark about McCarthy's effectiveness now. He shouldn't be this high of a favorite - and taking 1 1/2 runs is added insurance.
McCarthy has a 4.05 career ERA against the Royals in 14 appearances, including six starts. Kansas City has won 12 of the last 17 times it has faced a right-handed starter.
