Royals at Brewers 9/18/20 - MLB Picks & Predictions

Kansas City has found a second wind in this COVID-19 plagued season having won seven of their last eight games coming into a road series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite their recent success, the Royals are 21-29 on the season and sit in last place of the AL Central, 12 games back of the division-leading White Sox. The Brewers snuck away from a grueling five games series over three days with a 4-0 win over the Cardinals to secure the series win, the win brought them to 23-26 on the year and sit 6.5 games back of the Cubs with just 11 games remaining. 

The Brewers bats have never gotten going this season, especially Christian Yelich who is batting just .208 and has struck out 63 times this season. With Yelich struggling and Lorenzo Cain choosing to opt-out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns the Brewers bats have struggled. Milwaukee ranks 23rd in runs per game averaging 4.29 and batting .225 which ranks 27th in the MLB this year. 

Kansas City hasn’t been much better at generating runs than the Brewers, ranking 26th in the MLB and averaging 4.14 runs per game. Kansas City has been able to hit well for average ranking 16th in team batting average behind the solid play of second baseman Whit Merrifield who leads the team in batting average (.279) and homeruns (9). At the hot corner, the Royals have Maikel Franco who has been a nice addition from the Phillies, he’s batting .275 and has driven in a team-high 31 runs this season. 

Milwaukee will send out the struggling Adrian Houser(1-5; 5.40 ERA), despite a solid season last season Houser has regressed in 2020. Houser has allowed 21 runs in 17 ⅔ innings in his last four starts, despite facing relatively easy competition. The Brewers bullpen has been solid this season posting a 4.14 ERA to rank 4th in the NL. 

Kansas City will send out the left-handed Danny Duffy (3-3; 4.24 ERA), he threw 5 ⅔ scoreless innings against the Cleveland Indians his last start. Duffy has been a cornerstone piece of the Royals rotation since 2014 and has been as consistent as they come in that time. Duffy has struck out 47 to walking just 19 in 46 innings of work this season.