Royals vs Marlins Betting Preview: Red-Hot Garrett Has Miami Favored in Monday’s Series Opener
Batting Leader Arraez Looks to Keep Feasting on American League Pitching for Marlins

Marlins Look to Close the Gap on National League East-Leading Atlanta
The Miami Marlins get a chance to get healthy at the expense among another cellar-dwelling American League team after sweeping the woeful Oakland Athletics.
The Marlins allowed just two runs during its recent three-game sweep and now they face the MLB team with the worst on-base percentage in the majors. The Royals vs Marlins betting preview is projecting more success for the Marlins with Miami priced at -165 to take the series opener.
Kansas City joins Oakland as the only teams in the majors yet to hit the double-digit mark in road wins while Miami is third in the National League with 18 home victories.
Cesar Hernandez, who is 0-8 over the last two seasons, is slated to get the start for the visiting Royals. Keep an eye on the injury reports for his status as he has been dealing with a thumb injury. Lefty Braxton Garrett, who has allowed four runs in his last four starts, will get the ball for Miami.
When looking at the MLB standings by division, Miami is in second place in the National League East Division and Kansas City sits in last place in the American League Central Division.
According to the MLB playoff odds, Miami comes in at +10000 in the odds to win the World Series with Kansas City well back at +100000.
All or Nothing for Witt
There has been a bit of a sophomore jinx for Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Witt is on pace to hit 27 home runs, seven more than he had during his impressive rookie season. At his current rate, he could also post a season with 50 stolen bases. However, his batting average is down from .254 to .233 and his strikeouts are up. He is batting just .207 on the road this season and has a .185 average with runners on base.
Witt and the Royals are listed as the underdog according to the Royals vs Marlins betting preview.
Six of Kansas City’s last seven games finished under the total as have the last six road games.
An Eye on .400
One of the more intriguing trades of the season saw the Minnesota Twins trade American League batting champion Luis Arraez to Miami for pitcher Pablo Lopez.
Arraez has seven hits over the last two games to push his average to .392, easily the best among qualified hitters. He is one of the reasons why the Royals vs Marlins betting preview favors host Miami.
Arraez hasn’t gone more than two games without a hit this season and in his last nine games, he has six games with at least two hits as he has helped Miami post the sixth-best batting average in the majors and second-best mark in the National League.
Arraez, who spent his first four seasons playing in the American League, is batting .423 against AL teams so far this season.
Five of Miami’s last seven games have gone over the total.
Who’s Hot
- Scott Barlow, Kansas City Royals P: Barlow hasn’t allowed a run in his last four outings. He has surrendered just two hits with six strikeouts in four innings during that stretch.
- Bryan De La Cruz, Miami Marlins OF: De La Cruz has a .367 batting average with six RBIs over his last six games.
- Nick Pratto, Kansas City Royals 1B: Pratto is 8-for-22 in his last six games to raise his batting average from .277 to .292.
- Tanner Scott, Miami Marlins P: Scott hasn’t allowed a run in his last 10 outings. He has allowed six hits and struck out 17 in 10.2 innings.
Who’s Not
- Jackie Bradley Jr., Kansas City Royals OF: Bradley has two hits in his last 44 at-bats with 16 strikeouts as his average has plummeted to .136.
- Jean Segura, Miami Marlins 3B: Segura is hitless in 12 at-bats in the four games he played in June.
- Devin Smeltzer, Miami Marlins P: Smeltzer has allowed six home runs and 14 runs in 15.2 innings in his last six appearances.
- Nick Wittgren, Kansas City Royals P: Wittgren has allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings since making his season debut on May 24.
Royals vs Marlins Injury Update
Outfielder Edward Olivares and infielder Nicky Lopez weren’t in the starting lineup on Sunday for the Royals. Relief pitchers Amir Garrett and Josh Taylor and outfielder Kyle Isbel are on the injured list.
Outfielders Avisail Garcia and Jazz Chisholm are on the injured list for Miami along with relief pitchers Matt Barnes, Steven Okert and Trevor Rogers.
Marlins vs Royals Betting Preview
Kansas City has won five of the last seven road games against Miami. However, the Royals are the underdogs in the series opener.
Miami has won nine of its last 11 home games.
Miami is 15-10 as a favorite this season. The Marlins are just 12-19 against the spread at home this season.
The teams haven’t met since 2019 when the Royals took two of three games from the Marlins.
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