Stay on top of the latest MLB news and betting notes<\/a> from Vegas!<\/em><\/p>\n The Oakland Athletics head into Kauffman Stadium to begin a three game weekend series against the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.<\/p>\n The Royals fell short off a sweep against the Los Angeles Angels with a 5-0 loss. Meanwhile the Athletics were swept by the Seattle Mariners, as they lost a heartbreaker where they went from a near no-hitter to a complete collapse.<\/p>\n The crafty veteran Zach Greinke returns from the injured list to pitch for Kansas City. While the southpaw Cole Irvin gets nod for Oakland. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 PM EST\/5:10 PST.<\/p>\n The Oakland Athletics are the worst team in the majors with an abysmal 23-48 record. They are on a horrendous run as they have lost 18 of their last 21 games.<\/p>\n This includes getting swept in their last series against the Seattle Mariners as they lost 2-1 yesterday after losing 8-2 & 9-0 in the prior two games. Frankie Montas had a no-hitter going until he allowed two singles with two outs in the 8th inning.<\/p>\n Montas ended the threat only to watch his relievers Zach Jackson and A.J. Puk allow four walks and throw two wild pitches to ultimately blow the game.<\/p>\n The Oakland offensive attack again let them down as they rank dead last in categories like OPS and wRC+. The Athletics will hope that lefty starter Cole Irvin can end the losing streak.<\/p>\n He is 2-4 with a 3.14 ERA and had one his better starts last time out against the Royals. Irvin held Kansas City to one run on three hits in 6.1 innings of work at home last week.<\/p>\n The Kansas City Royals haven’t been much better than the Oakland Athletics. They are 25-43 on the season but have won five of their last seven games.<\/p>\n The Royals fell short of a sweep as they were blanked 5-0 by the Los Angeles Angels. Daniel Lynch could only last 4.1 innings after allowing a run on three hits and five walks. Nothing to note from the bats as they literally had only two singles.<\/p>\n Kansas City is literally in the just about the same boat as Oakland on offense, as they rank 27th in runs scored and 20th in batting average.<\/p>\n The 38 year-old crafty veteran Zach Greinke returns from the injured list for what seems like an attractive matchup in the Oakland Athletics. However, he is 0-4 with a 5.05 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.<\/p>\n The Kansas City Royals are favored at -130 on the money line, while the Oakland Athletics sit at +115 with a total of 9.5. This is a showdown of two teams who play poorly in every aspect of the game.<\/p>\n I don’t trust anything surrounding a total in this game. The Royals are in much better form so we will continue to fade the Athletics.<\/p>\n Prediction: Kansas City Royals Moneyline -130<\/strong><\/p>\n Join Drew Martin and a rotating panel of guests for First Pitch as we break down the daily baseball slate from a betting perspective. Join WagerTalk’s team of MLB betting experts every weekday at 1:45pm ET \/ 10:45am PT for First Pitch as we discuss the baseball betting slate.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n Friday, June 24<\/th>\n MLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Moneyline:<\/td>\n Kansas City Royals -132 vs Oakland Athletics +122<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Runline:<\/td>\n Royals -1.5 (+140) \/ Athletics +1.5 (-160)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Total:<\/td>\n 9 Runs (Over -120 \/ Under +100)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Game Time:<\/td>\n 8:10pm ET \/ 5:10pm PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Where:<\/td>\n Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Weather:<\/td>\n 85 Degrees \/ Clear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Kansas City Royals vs Oakland Athletics Analysis<\/h2>\n
A’s Finding New Ways to Lost<\/h3>\n
Royals Run Hot<\/h3>\n
Kansas City Royals vs Oakland Athletics Prediction<\/h2>\n
First Pitch | MLB Predictions for Friday, June 24<\/h3>\n
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