With the postseason gradually approaching, the Kansas City Royals (86-76) will meet the Baltimore Orioles (91-71) in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. This matchup which is scheduled for Minute Maid Park is of great intensity and it is bound to attract fans interested in the latest MLB picks. Given the differing patterns exhibited by both teams in their preceding games, this game is expected to be a lovely game of chess with respect to pitching and timely hitting.
Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles 10/2/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 4:38 PM ET |
| Where: | Minute Maid Park |
| Watch: | Fubo, ESPN, MLB.TV |
| Royals odds: | +121 Moneyline |
| Orioles odds: | -143 Moneyline |
| Total Line: | 7.5 |
Kansas City Royals (86-76) vs. Baltimore Orioles (91-71)
The Kansas City Royals enter this game with a notable disadvantage in head-to-head matchups, particularly against the Orioles, showcasing a struggle to clinch critical games on the road. However, their recent form reveals a resilience that might come into play in this crucial matchup. The Royals closed the regular season on a relatively positive note, overcoming formidable opponents and displaying a blend of strategic pitching and offensive opportunism. However, they experienced a slump against their series in Houston getting four defeats.
| Kansas City Royals Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Oct 1, 2024 | BAL | 1-0 | Win |
| Sep 29, 2024 | ATL | 4-2 | Win |
| Sep 28, 2024 | ATL | 1-2 | Lose |
| Sep 27, 2024 | ATL | 0-3 | Lose |
| Sep 26, 2024 | WSH | 7-4 | Win |
Despite their strong season record and home game dominance against Kansas City, the Baltimore Orioles have shown inconsistencies that could impact their playoff performance. Notably, alongside a loss to the Royals, they posted mixed results in their series against the New York Mets and the Detroit Tigers, concluding both with 2 losses and 1 win. To assert early dominance in this critical game, the Orioles must leverage their superior slugging percentage and home run capabilities, aiming to establish a strong footing from the start.
| Baltimore Orioles Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Oct 1, 2024 | KC | 0-1 | Lose |
| Sep 29, 2024 | MIN | 6-2 | Win |
| Sep 28, 2024 | MIN | 9-2 | Win |
| Sep 27, 2024 | MIN | 7-2 | Win |
| Sep 26, 2024 | NYY | 1-10 | Lose |
Seth Lugo (16-9, 3.00 ERA) vs. Zach Eflin (5-2, 2.60 ERA)
Seth Lugo, a starting pitcher for Kansas City, has been a reliable workhorse in the rotation this season posting a great season of 3.00 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through 206.2 innings pitched. Lugo has been particularly able to keep the walk and home runs at a minimal level and it’s a real asset for him on the mound. The Royals will need him to use his knowledge and strikeouts to slow down an aggressive Orioles team.
Zach Eflin of the Orioles, however, boasts a respectable 2.60 ERA and WHIP of 1.12 which suggests he has done relative damage control in few innings pitched this season. Eflin’s postseason incidence portrays the man who can be productive even during the crucial moments of the match further reiterating his importance in this duel. Low home runs allowed and favorable strikeout-to-walk ratio should be good enough to contain the Royals’ hitters which should bring a tight game.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Baltimore Orioles -143, Total Odds: 7.5
The present lines give the slightest of advantages to the Orioles based on their regular season performance and offense. As with both these teams, the over/under number of 7.5 is in keeping with the current scoring patterns of the two teams, which have recently been rather low, especially in the context of the playoff faceoffs.
Kansas City Royals Betting Trends
The Royals’ last games shows probabilities under them total runs as a clear indication of their game play, in this case, pitching and defense being the order of the day. That strategy, however, will need to be enhanced with effective batting to defeat the Orioles’ betting odds.
Baltimore Orioles Betting Trends
The Orioles have more of a mixed trend in their over-under scores but they have proven especially with their fortunate batting lineup that they can score a lot. Their home record against the Royals will also provide a mental advantage which will determine the betting dynamics.
Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles 10/2/24 Betting Picks
Considering the Oriole’s strong batting lineup in history and their dominance at home over the Royals, they would be the best pick. Although the Royals have very good pitching which can keep the game score close, the accepted logic is that the Orioles are a good bet because of their powerful hitting and home support. For such punters betting on the under on total runs may be worth looking into considering that looking at more recent games between the two have ended in out low scores.
Bettors looking for premium matchup tips may find it worthwhile to include player props for certain key players, particularly the starting pitchers, because their performance may control the tempo and/or result of the game.