The new MLB season is underway, and the action does not stop, with the Royals and Orioles facing off for their second series of this season. Tonight, April 1, these two teams will kick off their three-game series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The home team is the favorite for tonight's game, receiving -162 odds from bookie apps.
Baltimore's favorite status is partly due to playing at home but also because they had more success in their first series, securing two wins against the LA Angels. At the same time, the Royals managed to escape a sweep against the Minnesota Twins, winning the last game 11-0. Let's preview this MLB game, which is available for betting with a BetMGM sports promo code.
The Orioles’ Offensive Prowess is Impressive
Making bold predictions three games into the season is not very responsible. However, the facts speak for themselves, and the Orioles started their season with a potent offense, scoring 25 runs against the Angels in their three games. The initial series inflated Baltimore’s stats with an impressive .882 team OPS. Gunnar Henderson is a standout player with upper-echelon stats of 1.438 OPS. He has already scored a homer, three runs, and an equal number of walks.
The Orioles have the third-best batting average of .338 and are second in slugging with a .634 percentage. If Baltimore maintains this offensive prowess, they can soar this season. On the defensive, pitching is solid with a team ERA of 3.00, sufficient to rank sixth in the MLB. Dean Kremer is the reported pitcher for Baltimore tonight.
Last year, Kremer had an ERA of 4.13 in 172 innings played and was not very successful at Camden Yards with an ERA of 4.38. Baltimore is one of the teams expected to make the postseason. Still, its first series against the Angels is not a benchmark for things to come, considering the Angels are not a great team, especially not after losing Shohei Ohtani.
Kansas Is Still Finding Its Footing
The Royals are still in preseason mode after their sluggish start against the Twins. Kansas lost the first two games of the season, conceding nine runs while scoring only two runs. The offensive drought ended in the last game of the series with an impressive 11-0 win. A breakdown of their stats shows reasons for concern. The Royals' batting average is .240, ranking 17th in the league, and their on-base percentage is .290, ranking 22nd in the MLB.
This team's ERA is identical to the Orioles', with 3.00, positioning Kansas as 6th in the league in this stat category. The man responsible for challenging Baltimors' batters will be veteran Michael Wacha. Last season, Wacha played for the Padres and had an ERA of 3.22 with 134.1 innings played. Wacha had a solid training camp with the Royals and should reduce the Orioles' batting average.
Betting Prediction
The Orioles have had a fantastic start to the season, showcasing their offensive firepower. Playing at home is another factor working in their favor against the Royals. Both teams' pitchers will be making their debut this season, so it's hard to forecast their potential. Betting sites with free bets offer a total of 8.5 runs with -105 odds for the Over and -115 odds for the Under bet.
The run line of 1.5 offers +130 odds on Baltimore to cover as a favorite and -155 odds for the underdog Royals to cover. The moneyline is worth a +136 betting line on the visiting team. Considering Kansas's current form and the Orioles' powerful offense, Baltimore is the more promising betting selection for the opening game of this series.
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