MLB: Thursday's play

Play: Kansas City +1.5 -130 (Vargas vs. action)

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Reasoning: The Royals would have been 114-48 if they were given 1.5 runs per game this season. The Angels would have been 71-91 if they gave 1.5 rpg in 2014. Kansas City is hot, obviously. It tied a postseason record with seven stolen bases in its thrilling 9-8 come-from-behind victory on Tuesday against Oakland. The Royals have won seven of their last nine contests and they went 47-34 on the road this season. Los Angeles went 3-7 in its last 10 games overall and it went 3-5 in its last eight home games. The Angels have averaged just 2.87 rpg in their last 10 and they are hitting .185 and are scoring only 2.30 rpg in their last five. Jason Vargas is 5-4 with a 3.02 ERA in 15 career appearances (14 starts) against Los Angeles. Jered Weaver had a 3.66 ERA in five September starts and he allowed three homers to Seattle in his last turn. On the road Kansas City's bullpen has a 2.47 ERA and it has a 1.89 ERA in its last 10 games. The Angels bullpen has a 4.20 ERA in its last 10. Josh Hamilton says he's healthy, but he missed 22 of his team's last 23 games with chest and shoulder injuries. These teams split the regular-season series 3-3.


Record: 192-144-8 (57.1%)
Bankroll: +111.75%