Royals vs. Astros prediction, odds and likely pitchers for Friday, August 30

The Kansas City Royals are 1.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians at the top of the AL Central and have a chance to make up ground if they win their weekend series against the AL West-leading Houston Astros.

The Astros won the series opener on Thursday, defeating them by a final score of 6-3. Will we see a similar result tonight or will the Royals bounce back with an important win?

Let's find out what the bookmakers think.

All odds listed below are from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Running line:

Money line:

In total:

Kansas City Royals

Bobby Witt Jr.: Bobby Witt Jr. has had an incredible season, with a +8.7 WAR, the second-best in the major leagues, behind only Aaron Judge. He leads the Royals in batting average (.344) and home runs (28), and if he continues to play at this level, the Royals will be a dangerous opponent for anyone in the playoffs.

Houston Astros

Framber Valdez: The Astros star has been at his best in the second half of the season, posting a 3.66 ERA in the first half and a 2.40 ERA and a 5-1 record in the second half. This is great news for Astros fans and bettors.

Why are the Royals such big underdogs in this game?

They are third in OPS this month at .799 and now have Seth Lugo with his 14-8 record and 3.19 ERA. Even considering the Astros have Framber Valdez (3.27 ERA) on the mound, the Royals offer a lot of value at their current price.

There is probably no better underdog today than the Royals.

Selection: Royals +150

The odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and needs help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.