MLB Betting Free Picks – Royals Host White Sox With New Manager

It’s not like anyone expected the Kansas City Royals to be competitive in the American League betting scene this year, but with Trey Hillman getting yanked in place of Ned Yost, it’s a sign that the management for the Royals is taking their club that much more seriously.

Yost is familiar with losing, after serving time with the Milwaukee Brewers between 2003-08, but he also helped that team become competitive before losing his job. Times are changing in Kansas City, and hopefully for the better.

Before Hillman was fired, the Royals went just 2-9 SU and were stuck in a seven-game losing streak that they finally snapped against Cleveland. The Royals are currently 1-4 SU in their past 5 home games, and making matters worse is that they’ve only gone 2-5 SU in their past 7 games against the Chicago White Sox. In their most recent series earlier this month, Chicago went 2-1 SU.

Gil Meche, who will start at the stripe for the host Royals, was blasted by the Sox in the opening game of that series. He allowed 9 hits and 5 runs in just 5.0 innings, and the Royals ended up losing that game 5-1. On the season, Meche is winless in six starts with a season record of 0-4, two no-decisions and an ERA of 8.24.

Even more nauseating is that the Royals are 0-6 SU when Meche starts at the mound They’ve managed to go 3-3 ATS when he starts.

Chicago White Sox (14-20) vs. Kansas City Royals (12-23)

Friday, May 14th — Kauffman Stadium — 8:10pm EST

MLB Betting Lines:

Mark Buerhle – L -1.5 +120 -135 O 9.0 -125

Gil Meche – R +1.5 -140 +115 U 9.0 +105

Countering for the White Sox will be Mark Buehrle, who is looking for his first win in over a month. After opening the season with two fantastic wins, including a shutout against Cleveland, Buehrle has lost four straight decisions and the fifth game was a 7-4 beat down by the surprising Blue Jays, where Buehrle allowed just three-runs in the first 8.0 innings before Toronto opened up on the closers.

Buehrle is 2-4 SU in 7 starts, and the White Sox have lost the last five times he’s stepped to the stripe.

His times against the Royals, however, have been so much better than his recent games. Buehrle is 20-9 SU with a 3.57 ERA in 41 games against the Royals during his career.

Where To Watch: CSN, FSKC

The Royals may have gotten a wake up call as they cost Hillman his job, but that won’t be enough to get back on the winning track. The White Sox have plenty to make up for after disastrous visits to Minnesota and Toronto. Their bats won’t let them down against the Royals’ paltry, 14th ranked defense.

Furious MLB Free Pick: Chicago RL and ML (UNDER)