The Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros are set to face off in the first game of their three-game series at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 PM ET.
Team Overview & Recent Form
Kansas City Royals (24-18, 2nd in AL Central)
- Last Five Games: Loss, Loss, Win, Win, Win
- Road Record: 10-9
- Batting Average: .244 (16th in MLB)
- Key Players:
- Bobby Witt Jr. – 17 doubles, five home runs, 23 RBIs, 14 stolen bases.
- Maikel Garcia – 10 doubles, a triple, four home runs, 17 RBIs, 10 stolen bases.
- Vinnie Pasquantino – Six home runs, 24 RBIs, batting .230.
Houston Astros (20-19, 3rd in AL West)
- Last Five Games: Win, Loss, Win, Win, Loss
- Home Record: 12-8
- Batting Average: .285 (7th in MLB)
- Key Players:
- Jeremy Peña – Five home runs, 19 RBIs, batting .259.
- Isaac Paredes – Four home runs, 24 walks, 17 RBIs.
- Jose Altuve – Five doubles, four home runs, 14 RBIs, batting .259.
Pitching Matchup
- Royals: Michael Wacha (RHP, 2-4, 2.98 ERA) – Has been solid, averaging 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
- Astros: Framber Valdez (LHP, 2-4, 3.94 ERA) – Looking for his third win of the season, holding opponents to a .229 batting average.
Game Analysis & Predictions
- Royals’ Strategy: Kansas City needs Witt Jr. and Garcia to generate offense while Wacha delivers a strong outing.
- Astros’ Strategy: Houston must capitalize on their home-field advantage and rely on Peña and Altuve to drive in runs.
Game Odds
Kansas City Royals 8
Houston Astros – 122
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, May 11, 2025
