The Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals, who split a two game set at Turner Field in mid-April, will hook up again tonight as they open a two gamer at Kauffman Stadium. First pitch in this evening’s inter-league clash between the Braves and Royals is scheduled for 8:10pm ET. MLB Free Picks and Odds at 5Dimes have tonight’s contest listed as a -105 moneyline pick’em and the Over/Under set at 7.5 runs (Over is favored at -115 odds).

 

The Braves, who are 19-22 on the road this season, have suffered through something of a dry spell over the last week as they are just 2-5 in their last seven games. However, at 44-33, Atlanta still holds a comfortable six games lead over the second place Nationals in the NL East standings.

 

The Braves will look to add to that cushion tonight with 27 year old right hander Kris Medlen toeing the rubber.

 

Despite Medlen’s impressive 2.96 ERA, his record is a sub-par 4-7 in 15 starts; however, he and the Braves are 3-1 in his last four outings. Medlen yielded just 18 hits, one walk, one earned run, and struck out 19 over 20.2 innings in the three victories.

 

Tonight will mark Medlen’s second appearance of the season against the Royals; he limited KC to six hits and one earned run over seven innings in a 6-3 Atlanta win on April 16^th.

 

Kansas City, which improved to 35-38 with Sunday’s 7-6 win over the White Sox, will take aim at its 19^th home win with Ervin Santana on the hill.

 

Santana, who has not pitched fewer than six innings in any of his 14 starts this season, brings a 5-5 record, 2.64 ERA, and 0.98 WHIP to the bump tonight. The former Angel has been incredible of late, allowing a mere 16 hits, four walks and three earned runs in his last four starts (28.2 innings) for a ridiculous 0.95 ERA and 0.70 WHIP. Amazingly, though, KC managed to go 2-2 in those four outings.

 

Notable Trends: The Braves are 2-7 in their last nine games as road team with a moneyline spread between 100 and 120. The Royals are 7-3 in their last 10 games at home with a total between 7.5 and 8 runs.

 

 

Atlanta Braves -1.5 (+150), Over 7.5 (-115), -105 (Moneyline)

Kansas City Royals +1.5 (-170), Under 7.5 (-105), -105 (Moneyline)

 

Vegas Runner, Bryan Leonard and host Steve Fezzik discuss the current MLB replay system, with ideas on how to tweak it.