The Washington Nationals (69-87) will host the Kansas City Royals (82-74), Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. ET, in the first game of a three-game series.
The Royals are favored away from home (-167) versus the Nationals (+139). The matchup on the mound for this contest is set with the Kansas City Royals looking to Cole Ragans (11-9), and Mitchell Parker (7-10) answering the bell for the Washington Nationals.
The Royals lost 2-0 to the Giants Sunday, with Seth Lugo (seven innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits while striking out five) on the line for the loss. Bobby Witt Jr. went 1-for-3 to lead the Royals offensively in the defeat.
The Nationals lost to the Cubs Sunday, with Jake Irvin getting the loss while throwing four innings, giving up five earned runs on four hits while striking out three. James Wood went 2-for-4 with a double to pace the Nationals’ offense.
Before watching this Royals vs. Nationals matchup, here is what you need to know about Tuesday’s action on the diamond, including viewing options.
Kansas City Royals vs. Washington Nationals odds and betting lines
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 9:16 p.m. ET. For a full list of Sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
- Favorite: Royals (-167, bet $167 to win $100)
- Underdog: Nationals (+139, bet $100 to win $139)
- Over/under: 8
Royals vs. Nationals: Live streaming info & game time
- Game Day: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
- Game Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Nationals Park
- TV Channel: Bally Sports
- Live Stream: Fubo (Watch for free)
Royals stats and trends
Royals betting records
- This season, the Royals have been favored 74 times and won 46, or 62.2%, of those games.
- Kansas City is 19-7 this season when entering a game favored by -167 or more on the moneyline.
- The moneyline for this contest implies a 62.5% chance of a victory for the Royals.
- Kansas City’s games have gone over the total in 68 of its 156 chances.
- The Royals have an ATS record of 83-73-0 in 156 games with a spread this season.
Cole Ragans (Royals probable starter)
- Ragans gets the start for the Royals, his 32nd of the season. He is 11-9 with a 3.24 ERA and 217 strikeouts in 180 1/3 innings pitched.
- In his last time out on Tuesday, the lefty went seven innings against the Detroit Tigers, allowing one earned run while surrendering four hits.
- In 31 games this season, the 26-year-old has an ERA of 3.24, with 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .215 against him.
- Ragans is aiming to secure his fourth straight quality start in this outing.
- Ragans will look to build on a five-game streak of going five or more innings (he’s averaging 5.8 frames per appearance).
- In five of his 31 total appearances this season he has not surrendered an earned run.
- The opposing Nationals offense has the 24th-ranked slugging percentage (.375) and ranks 29th in MLB play with 130 home runs. It has a collective .243 batting average, and is 19th in MLB with 1256 total hits and 24th in MLB play scoring 638 runs.
- The 26-year-old’s 3.24 ERA ranks 13th, 1.148 WHIP ranks 23rd, and 10.8 K/9 ranks third among qualifying pitchers this season.
Royals batting stats
- The Royals’ 167 home runs rank 20th in Major League Baseball.
- The offense for Kansas City has a slugging percentage of .409 this season, 12th in MLB.
- The Royals’ .250 batting average is among the best in baseball, ranking seventh in MLB.
- Kansas City ranks 12th in the majors with 719 total runs scored this season.
- The Royals have an OBP of .308 this season, which ranks 18th in MLB.
- Kansas City is one of the most-disciplined teams at the plate this season, ranking second with an average of 7.1 strikeouts per game.
Nationals stats and trends
Nationals betting records
- The Nationals have been victorious in 53, or 41.7%, of the 127 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
- This season, Washington has come away with a win 22 times in 63 chances when named as an underdog of at least +139 or longer on the moneyline.
- The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Nationals have a 41.8% chance of walking away with the win.
- Washington and its opponents have hit the over in 74 of its 156 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
- The Nationals have an against the spread mark of 85-70-0 in 155 games with a line this season.
Mitchell Parker (Nationals probable starter)
- Parker makes the start for the Nationals, his 29th of the season. He is 7-10 with a 4.44 ERA and 128 strikeouts over 146 2/3 innings pitched.
- In his most recent time out on Tuesday, the lefty tossed 3 2/3 innings against the New York Mets, allowing five earned runs while surrendering seven hits.
- In 28 games this season, the 24-year-old has amassed a 4.44 ERA and 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .259 to opposing batters.
- Parker has 11 quality starts this season.
- Parker has 20 starts this season where he pitched five or more innings.
- He has held his opponents without an earned run in five of his 28 appearances this season.
- He will match up with a Royals team that is batting .250 as a unit (seventh in the MLB). They are also slugging a collective .409 (12th in the league) with 167 total home runs (20th in MLB play).
Nationals batting stats
- The Nationals have hit 130 home runs this season, the second-lowest total in baseball.
- So far this year, Washington is 24th in baseball with a .375 slugging percentage.
- The Nationals have the 14th-ranked batting average in the majors (.243).
- Washington scores the 24th-most runs in baseball (638 total, 4.1 per game).
- The Nationals rank 16th in MLB with an on-base percentage of .309.
