Orioles at Royals – KC Looking to Stop 5 Game Skid

Guthrie, Run-Happy Orioles To Hand Meche, Struggling Royals Another Loss

The Kansas City Royals (18-16 SU, 22-12 RL, 15-19 O/U) will be looking to end their five-game losing streak in the BetOnline Sportsbook when they host the Baltimore Orioles (14-20 SU, 16-18 RL, 19-14-1 O/U) at Kauffman Stadium tonight at 8 PM ET.

The Orioles have dropped two of its last three and were defeated 8-6 by the Tampa Bay Rays as a -110 pick’em on Wednesday.

Brian Roberts belted two-run homer for the O’s while Ty Wigginton went 3-for-4 to help the game’s 14 total runs play over the 11-run O/U total.

The Royals were swept by the Oakland A’s in their two-game set, losing 7-2 on Wednesday as +105 underdogs.

Kansas City got a fine performance from starter Brian Bannister but collapsed as relievers Horacio Ramirez and Jamey Wright allowed five runs to help send the O/U outcome over the 8.5-run O/U total.

Tonight, the Orioles will give the ball to right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (2-3, 4.97 ERA) while the Royals counter with veteran right-hander Gil Meche (2-3, 4.43 ERA).

Guthrie has lost two consecutive starts and has allowed at least three runs in each of his last five starts. The hurler allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings in Baltimore’s 4-0 home loss to New York on Friday.

Meche has also struggled recently, allowing at least four earned runs in each of his last four starts, including allowing four runs on eight its in 5.2 innings in Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Angels.

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and MLB Free Pick.

The Orioles are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a loss.

The Orioles are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. American League Central.

The Royals are 4-1 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.

The Royals are 8-2 in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing record.

The Under is 4-1 in Meche’s last 5 starts vs. Orioles.

The Orioles are 20-6 in the last 26 meetings in Kansas City.

The Orioles are 44-15 in the last 59 meetings.

MLB Odds

Baltimore Orioles +1½ -175

Jeremy Guthrie –R +115

Kansas City Royals -1½ +155

Gil Meche –R -135

Over 8½ -115

Under 8½ -105

Analysis: The Royals have won three of the last five against Baltimore, covering the RL in two of those contests and will be facing a struggling pitcher in Jeremy Guthrie that they should have a solid chance at beating despite the fact that their most experienced pitcher, Meche, has had his own problems on the mound recently.

Baltimore has alternated wins and losses over their last six games and are due for a win tonight if they keep that recent trend going and have scored a whopping 28 runs over their last four games compared to Kansas City’s nine total runs scored during their five-game skid.

Take the Baltimore Orioles and their hotter bats, to get the job done against the Royals and their struggling hitters, covering the Run Line in the process. Baltimore has pretty much owned the Royals when they play in Kansas City, winning a whopping 20 of their last 26 road games between the two longtime AL rivals.

With both starting pitchers giving up runs at a fairly high rate, I like the Over to play out in this contest for the fourth time in the last five meetings.

MLB Free Picks: Orioles +1½ Runs/Over 8½ Total Runs