The Kansas City Royals (26-22) and the San Francisco Giants (28-19) open a 3-game set Monday. First pitch from Oracle Park is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. ET (MLB Network/MLB.TV Free Game of the Day). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Royals vs. Giants odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Giants swept 3-0 last year
The Royals are coming off a 2-1 series loss vs. the St. Louis Cardinals in Kansas City, avoiding the sweep with a 2-1 win as +102 underdogs in the Sunday finale with the Under (8) cashing. 3B Maikel García drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning single Sunday after LF Drew Waters led off with a pinch-hit triple.
The Giants swept the A’s in 3 games at Oracle Park, wrapping up the set with a 3-2 win as -145 favorites Sunday with the Under (8.5) hitting. 3B Heliot Ramos (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) opened the scoring Sunday with a leadoff home run in the first inning and later delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth.
Royals at Giants projected starters
LHP Kris Bubic vs. LHP Robbie Ray
Bubic (4-2, 1.66 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.10 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 9.3 K/9 in 54 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 9 K in 2-1 setback at Houston Astros Tuesday
- 2025 road stats: 2-1, 1.88 ERA (28 2/3 IP, 6 ER), 1.26 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 in 5 starts
- 2024 vs. Giants: 1 relief appearance (Sept. 22), 2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 2-0 home defeat
- Career vs. Giants: 0-1, 2.03 ERA (13 1/3 IP, 3 ER), 7 H, 3 BB, 18 K in 2 starts and 1 relief appearance
Ray (6-0, 3.04 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.25 WHIP, 4.6 BB/9 and 9.8 K/9 in 50 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 9 K in 10-6 home victory vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday
- 2025 home stats: 3-0, 2.32 ERA (31 IP, 8 ER), 1.19 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 5 starts
- Career vs. Royals: 0-0, 2.13 ERA (12 2/3 IP, 3 ER), 10 H, 7 BB, 9 K — last faced them in 2022
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Royals at Giants odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:14 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Royals +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Giants -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals +1.5 (-190) | Giants -1.5 (+160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Royals at Giants picks and predictions
Prediction
Giants 3, Royals 2
SAN FRANCISCO (-130) enters Monday riding the momentum of a 3-game sweep of the A’s.
While Bubic boasts a career-best 1.66 ERA, that number appears unsustainable given his 4.26 ERA over 106 career outings (69 starts). Kansas City is just 5-4 in his starts this season, whereas the Giants are a perfect 9-0 when Ray takes the mound.
BET GIANTS (-130).
Kansas City +1.5 (-190) will probably hit, as the Royals have lost by more than 1 run just once in their last 6 games. Still, betting against Ray is risky. He’s 3-0 in 5 home starts and is having his best season since winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2021.
PASS on the run line.
Ray has held opponents to 2 earned runs or fewer in 4 of his last 5 starts, with the Under hitting in 4 of those outings. Bubic has been similarly effective, allowing just 8 earned runs across his last 6 starts, during which the Under is 4-2.
Team trends also point toward the Under, with Kansas City going 13-6-1 to the Under as a road underdog. Still, the key takeaway is clear: Don’t bet against Ray, who continues to deliver for Under bettors.
BET UNDER 7.5 (+100).
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