The San Diego Padres (19-22), one of the least productive offenses in the National League, are set to host the Kansas City Royals (12-30) at Petco Park on Monday for the first of a three-game Interleague series.
The Royals are in the midst of a nine-game road trip. They are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Brewers, dropping the finale 9-6 on Sunday at American Family Field. Bobby Witt Jr. was 2 for 5 with a home run and a double.
He had three RBIs. Salvador Perez added a home run and two runs. The Padres are playing the first of six games at home after returning from a rough six-game road trip (1-5).
They are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers, dropping the finale 4-0 on Sunday at Dodger Stadium for their fifth straight loss. Fernando Tatis Jr. went 1 for 2 with a double and two walks.The teams are meeting for the first time this season. Last season, the Padres won two of the three games between the teams.
ON THE MOUND
Brad Keller (3-3, 4.31 ERA) is set to get the start for Kansas City. The righty allowed one run over five innings in his last start, a 9-1 road win over the White Sox on Wednesday. He earned the win, yielding three hits while striking out four and walking four.
Over two appearances (zero starts) against the Padres in 2022, Keller was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA over one inning. He had one strikeout and two walks. Right-hander Michael Wacha (3-1, 4.82 ERA) gets the start for San Diego.
Wacha made one start against the Royals in 2022, throwing seven innings for the Red Sox in a 2-1 home win on September 16. He gave up seven hits while striking out four in the no-decision.
In his last start on Tuesday, Wacha got the win on the road against the Twins. He threw six innings and gave up one run on three hits, striking out four and walking three in the 6-1 victory.
AT THE PLATE
The Kansas City offense is averaging 4.1 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .236/.300/.393. Perez leads the team in OPS at .874.
The catcher is slashing .295/.342/.532 with nine home runs, 23 RBIs, and 22 runs over 37 games. Against right-handed pitchers like Wacha this season, the Royals have a .668 OPS.
Perez also is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .870 OPS in 107 at-bats. San Diego is slashing .228/.314/.390 for the season and averaging 3.9 runs per game, third lowest in the National League.
Juan Soto leads the team with a .909 OPS. The right fielder has seven home runs, 20 RBIs, and 22 runs scored with a slash line of .262/.412/.496.
San Diego is averaging only 2.0 runs per game in the last five with their slash line slipping across the board (.161/.224/.311). The Padres have a .676 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a 1.075 OPS over 93 at-bats, Soto also has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Kansas City is on a four-game losing streak on the road, bringing their record to 6-13 in 2023. The Royals have scored 3.9 runs per game away from home, while allowing 5.1 runs.
San Diego has gone 10-11 at Petco Park this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 4.1. In the last 10 games at Petco Park between the teams, San Diego is 6-4 despite an average scoreline favoring Kansas City (4.6-4.1).
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Royals are fifth in the AL Central, 10 games behind the division-leading Twins. The Padres are third in the NL West, six games behind the Dodgers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
SD Padres (-225)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
