Carlos Hernandez is lined up for his first start of the season as the Kansas City Royals (13-31) face off against the San Diego Padres (20-23) at Petco Park on Wednesday with the three-game Interleague series all square at 1-1.The Royals evened up the series 1-1 after winning 5-4 on Tuesday.
Starter Brady Singer got the win, allowing four runs (2 ER) on seven hits over six innings, and Scott Barlow earned his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.
Bobby Witt Jr. was 2 for 5 with one run and one RBI in the win. Matt Carpenter went 1 for 2 with a double, one run, and one RBI, walking twice, for the Padres.
ON THE MOUND
Hernandez (0-1, 4.50 ERA) is set for his first start of the season for Kansas City. The RHP threw a scoreless inning in relief in his last appearance, a 9-6 road defeat against the Brewers on Sunday. He struck out two.
Hernandez is making his first appearance against the Padres this season. Hernandez made one appearance against the Padres in 2022, a 4-3 home loss on August 27. He allowed one hit over two scoreless innings, striking out one.
For San Diego, right-hander Yu Darvish (2-2, 3.16 ERA) will toe the rubber. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Royals. Darvish made one start against the Royals in 2022, throwing seven innings in a 4-3 road win on August 27.
He gave up five hits and walked two, while striking out six in the win. In his last start on Thursday, Darvish took a no-decision on the road against the Twins. He threw six innings and gave up two runs on four hits, striking out seven and walking one in the 5-3 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Kansas City has averaged only 3.0 runs a game, down from their season average of 4.0, while performing worse across the board (.186/.247/.323). Against right-handed pitchers like Darvish this season, the Royals have a .661 OPS, fifth lowest in MLB.
Salvador Perez is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .886 OPS in 113 at-bats. San Diego is averaging only 2.4 runs per game in the last five, down from 3.9 for the season, with their slash line slipping across the board (.187/.272/.290).
The Padres have a .671 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a 1.034 OPS over 98 at-bats, Juan Soto has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Kansas City is 7-14 in road games in 2023, scoring 3.8 runs per game while allowing 5.0 runs. San Diego has gone 11-12 at home this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 4.0.
In the last 10 games between the teams at Petco Park, each club has won five, though Kansas City has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 4.7-3.8.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Royals are fifth in the AL Central, 11 games behind the division-leading Twins. The Padres are third in the NL West, seven games behind the Dodgers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
SD Padres (-300)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
