Snapping a Skid – Kansas City Royals at Oakland A’s

Red-Hot Bannister Looks To Help Royals Snap Skid Against Outman, A’s

The Kansas City Royals (18-14 SU, 22-10 RL, 13-19 O/U) will be looking to snap a season-high four-game losing streak in the BetOnline Sportsbook when they visit the Oakland Athletics (11-18 SU, 15-14 RL, 14-15 O/U) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum tonight at 10 PM ET.

The Royals were routed on Tuesday, losing to the A’s 12-3 as +110 road underdogs while the 15 total runs played well Over the 9-run O/U total.

Shortstop Orlando Cabrera went 3-for-5 with four RBI to lead Oakland while Jack Cust went 2-for-5 and added a three-run blast.

Veteran outfielder Coco Crisp went 3-for-3 with a solo home run to lead Kansas City in a losing effort.

Tonight, the Royals will give the ball to red-hot right-hander Brian Bannister (3-0, 1.48 ERA) who looks to continue his hot start while Oakland counters with left-hander Josh Outman (0-0, 5.3 ERA).

Bannister tossed six shutout innings to lead the Royals to their last victory, allowing just five hits while striking out seven batters in a 3-1 victory over Seattle on Thursday.

Outman threw a pretty good game his last time out despite failing to record a decision, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five and walking three in 4.1 innings of a 5-3 home win over Toronto on Friday.

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

• The Royals are 4-0 in Bannister’s last 4 starts as an underdog.
• The Royals are 5-0 in Bannister’s last 5 starts.
• The Athletics are 12-5 in their last 17 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
• The Athletics are 13-27 in their last 40 during game 2 of a series.
• The Over is 6-1 in Bannister’s last 7 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
• The Under is 4-1 in Outman’s last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
• The Royals are 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.
• The Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Oakland.
• The Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

MLB Odds:

• Kansas City Royals +1½ -220
• Brian Bannister –R -105
• Oakland A’s -1½ +180
• Josh Outman –L -115
• Over 8½ Ev
• Under 8½ -120

Analysis: While the Oakland A’s woke up their bats for the first time in quite a while with Tuesday’s rout, they will be tested tonight if Royals starter Brian Bannister continues throwing the way he has all season long despite starting the year at Triple-A Omaha.

Kansas City has won five straight games Bannister has started and four in a row with him on the mound as a road favorite.

Oakland has also lost five of seven games that Josh Outman has appeared in and have beaten the Royals just once in their last seven meetings overall.

I like Floyd Bannister’s boy to lead the Royals to victory tonight and snap the team’s season-high losing streak in the process.

MLB Free Picks: Royals +1½ Runs/Under 8½ Total Runs