On Wednesday, the Colorado Rockies (4-17) face off against the Kansas City Royals (9-14) at Kansas City, Missouri. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Kansas City comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak, but has dropped four of their last five games prior to their series opener against Colorado. In their 4-3 extra-inning victory over Detroit, the Kansas City Royals relied on starting pitcher Michael Wacha, who delivered 5.1 solid innings on the mound. Wacha allowed two earned runs on seven hits, while striking out five Tigers batters to keep his team in the game. On the offensive side this season, Kansas City has seen a balanced power output, with Vinnie Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia, Salvador Perez, and Bobby Witt Jr. each tying for the team lead with two home runs apiece. Trailing just behind them in the home run column are Freddy Fermin, Kyle Isbel, and MJ Melendez, each having hit one long ball so far. Vinnie Pasquantino has been the most productive run producer, leading the Royals with 14 RBIs through the early part of the season. When it comes to consistent hitting, Bobby Witt Jr. has set the pace for Kansas City with a strong .307 batting average, placing him among the most reliable hitters in the lineup. Defensively, the Royals have struggled to keep opposing offenses at bay over their last five games, allowing an average of 4.6 runs per contest. As a result, they currently trail the division-leading Detroit Tigers by four and a half games in the tight AL Central race. Looking ahead, Kansas City hopes to spark both their pitching staff and their bats as they prepare to host a team that currently sits at the bottom of the MLB standings. Despite their ambitions, the Royals’ offense has lagged behind much of the league, averaging just 2.9 runs per game—a mark that ranks worst in Major League Baseball.

Colorado enters this game on a one-game winning streak, but has dropped four of their last five games prior to their series opener against Kansas City. In their recent 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals, Mickey Moniak played a key role for the Colorado Rockies, recording one hit in five at-bats and driving in two runs. As of now, Moniak, along with Hunter Goodman and Brenton Doyle, sits atop the Rockies’ home run leaderboard, with each player having hit three home runs this season. Close behind is Ryan McMahon, who has managed to hit two homers so far. Brenton Doyle has been particularly productive at the plate, leading the team in RBIs with a total of twelve this season. When it comes to batting average, Kyle Farmer stands out for Colorado, boasting a team-high .306 average. Despite some strong individual performances, the Rockies have struggled mightily as a team. Over their last five games, Colorado’s pitching staff has given up an average of six runs per contest. This lack of success has left them at the very bottom of the National League West Division standings, and they currently have the worst record in all of Major League Baseball. The team’s struggles led to the recent firing of their hitting coach as they search for ways to turn things around. Looking ahead, the Rockies will be facing the Kansas City Royals, a team that ranks last in the league in terms of average runs scored per game. Overall, the Rockies score an average of 3.2 runs per game.

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