Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals 8/7/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Boston Red Sox conclude a four-game series on the road Sunday against the Kansas City Royals. Boston is 54-54 following its 7-4 victory over Kansas City in the second game of the series on Friday. Xander Bogaerts collected four hits and Alex Verdugo had a pair of doubles to help lead the Red Sox to the win. Boston is last in the American League East, 16 ½ games behind first-place New York. 

Third baseman Rafael Devers is batting .319 to lead Boston and has team highs in home runs with 23 and RBIs with 59, while shortstop Xander Bogaerts is the leader in hits with 120 and the leader in on-base percentage at .388. On Sunday, the Boston Red Sox will send Kutter Crawford to the mound. The right-hander is 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA, 56 Ks and 17 BBs.

Kansas City dropped to 42-65 following its three-run loss to Boston on Friday. The Royals have lost three of four and eight of the last 11. Kansas City is 27th in team ERA 4.70 and Royals are giving up an average of .266 at the plate to opposing hitters which is 28th. The Royals are fourth in the American League Central, 14 ½ games behind the first place Minnesota Twins.

Center fielder Michael A. Taylor is batting .277 to lead Kansas City and has a team-high .346 on-base percentage. Salvador Perez is the leader in home runs with 16 and Bobby Witt Jr is the leader in RBIs with 53 and hits with 96. On Sunday, the Kansas City Royals will send Brad Keller to the mound. The right-hander is 5-12 with a 4.61 ERA, 76 Ks and 41 BBs.