MLB Predictions: Dodgers vs Royals Lines
The Kansas City Royals host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in the second game of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won the opener in the series on Monday by a score of 5-3, snapping a four-game losing streak which followed a 10-game winning streak.
Los Angeles Dodgers (42-36) at Kansas City Royals (39-36)
Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Time: 8:10 PM ET
Venue: Kauffman Stadium
City: Kansas City, Missouri
O/U Odds: 7
Money Line: Los Angeles -130, Kansas City +120
Pitching Matchup: LH Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.52 ERA) at LH Danny Duffy (4-6, 2.80 ERA)
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This game pits a pair of southpaws with sub-3.00 ERAs. Clayton Kershaw is the obvious headliner, coming off the best start of his career, a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies.
The Dodgers won that game 8-0, with Kershaw striking out a career-high 15 batters along the way. He needed only 107 pitches to accomplish the feat. Kershaw retired the first 18 batters he faced in the game, striking out 10 of them.
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Kershaw had a shot at a perfect game but a slow chopper by Corey Dickerson to lead off the seventh inning was thrown away by Hanley Ramirez. Kershaw retired the next nine batters he faced. He has struck out 86 batters while walking only eight over 64 1/3 innings on the season.
In winning each of his four starts in the month of June, Kershaw has posted a 1.24 ERA and 0.52 WHIP, striking out 40 and walking only one batter in 29 innings of work.
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The Royals counter with Danny Duffy. He’s flown under the radar, but has offered the Royals some quality innings this season. He’s posted a 2.80 ERA on the season, limiting opponents to a 1.05 WHIP.
In his last start, Duffy allowed two earned runs on three hits, walking one and striking out five over seven innings of work against the Detroit Tigers.
It was his second consecutive outing lasting seven innings. Over his last two starts, Duffy has gone 14 innings while allowing just eight hits and two runs, striking out 14 and walking only two.
In the month of June, he’s surrendered only five earned runs over 25 2/3 innings of work.
Pitchers coming off no-hitters historically have a pretty poor track record, but if anyone can buck that trend, it’s Kershaw. He also has the luxury of making this start on an extra day’s rest. The Dodgers will be looking for the bounce back in this game after losing the opener.
Additionally, Duffy has provided the Royals with back-to-back quality starts, and should be able to keep the Royals competitive in this one. Kershaw seems likely to hold up his end, making the under worth a look.
The Dodgers are 4-0 in Kershaw’s last four starts, and they are 8-1 in their last nine road games versus a left-handed starter.
The under is 16-5 in Kershaw’s last 21 starts on a Tuesday, and it is 11-5-1 in Duffy’s last 17 home starts.
The play: Los Angeles -130, Under 7
