The Philadelphia Phillies (74-54) will battle the Kansas City Royals (72-56) in Game 2 of their three-game series on Saturday, August 24 at 7:10 PM ET. The action will be played at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, where the Phillies are favored with a moneyline at -120.
The Phillies are currently at the top of the National League East but are at risk of slipping into the division. If they cannot win multiple games here, they have a rough outlook for the remainder of the season.
They are coming from a 7-4 loss in Game 1 of this series. Despite having steady offense throughout, they allowed five runs alone in the bottom of the third inning. There are better ways to start a game than this, and they need to work on pitching.
When he gets the start, Ranger Suarez (10-5) will offer that boost from the mound. He currently averages a 2.87 ERA and a WHIP of 1.06. The team puts up an ERA of 3.69, slightly better than the Royals' offering.
The Phillies are getting .256 at the plate and are allowing their opponents to have a sliver of hope when at the plate, averaging .238. This is a solid ratio between the two averages, but they must be more aggressive.
The Royals have won four out of their last five games, including Game 1 here. The Phillies are nearly .500 on the road, but the Royals are likable here at home with a 40-26 record.
Bobby Witt Jr. will be a huge factor in this game. He leads the team with 25 home runs and a .352 batting average. This batting average also ranks first overall in the league.
Brady Singer (9-8) takes the starting spot on the mound and aims to hold his own early. He averages an ERA of 3.18 and has a WHIP of 1.21. The team has put together a 3.80 ERA, which is still solid.
The Royals' batting average is .257, which is right on par with the Phillies'. However, they allow their opponents a .243 batting average each game, which will likely need to improve if they want any chance here.
MyBookie offers appealing MLB odds for the Philadelphia Phillies vs. Kansas City Royals showdown. According to market research, the Phillies have a 48.4 percent chance of winning this game.
This is an excellent matchup since both teams pair well on paper. The Royals have slightly better defense at starting pitchers here and were better at the plate in Game 1. The momentum has shifted in favor of the Royals, so look for them to have the best opportunity to win.
