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San Diego Padres vs Kansas City Royals June 20th 2025
The Kansas City Royals will take on the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on Friday, June 20, 2025. The game is set to start at 9:40 PM and will be aired on APLTV. Fans can expect a mild evening with scattered clouds and a light breeze.
Kansas City enters with a 37-38 record, sitting 10 games back in the AL Central. Michael Lorenzen will start for the Royals, carrying a 4.91 ERA and a 4-7 record. San Diego holds a 39-34 record, 6 games back in the NL West. Nick Pivetta, with a 3.40 ERA and a 7-2 record, will start for the Padres.
Royals vs Padres Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Kansas City Royals vs. San Diego Padres
- Venue: PETCO Park in San Diego, CA
- Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
- Betting Odds: Padres -182, Royals +155
The Royals Can Win If…
The Kansas City Royals are coming off a strong performance against the Texas Rangers, winning 4-1. Michael Wacha pitched six innings, giving up only one run and striking out five batters. Jac Caglianone was a standout, hitting two home runs and driving in two runs.
Key stats show the Royals’ pitching has been effective this season. They have a team ERA of 3.37, ranking fourth in the league. The Royals’ pitchers have also allowed a batting average against of .233, placing them seventh in this category.
The Royals’ lineup includes several players who can make an impact. Bobby Witt Jr. has a batting average of .285 and has scored 41 runs. Maikel Garcia is hitting .313, providing consistency in the middle of the lineup.
The Padres Can Win If…
The San Diego Padres recently played against the Los Angeles Dodgers, losing a close game 4-3. Stephen Kolek pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing 3 earned runs and striking out 3 batters. Luis Arraez had a solid performance, going 2 for 4 with a run scored.
San Diego’s pitching has been strong this season, with a team ERA of 3.64, ranking 10th in the league. Their batting average against is .228, which ranks 3rd, showing their ability to limit opposing hitters. Nick Pivetta, their starting pitcher for the upcoming game, holds a 3.40 ERA and a 7-2 record, making him a reliable option on the mound.
The Padres’ lineup includes key players like Manny Machado, who has a .312 batting average and 11 home runs. Fernando Tatis Jr. leads the team with 13 home runs, providing power in the lineup. With a mix of strong pitching and capable hitters, the Padres have the tools to succeed in their next game against the Kansas City Royals.
The Lean
The Padres are favored to win with a moneyline of -182. My model projects the Padres to win with a score of 5-3. The Padres have a strong pitching lineup, ranking 4th in ERA, which supports this pick.
The over/under line is set at 7.5. My model projects a total score of 8 runs. Given the Padres’ solid pitching and the Royals’ lower ranking in home runs, the under 7.5 is a reasonable pick.
Future Odds Shifting?
See Updated MLB Futures
Battered Padres Return Home to Reset Against Royals
The San Diego Padres are happy to be home, but they return battered and bruised after a chaotic series finale against the Dodgers. They’ll look to reset and calm the waters on Friday night as they open a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals.
The Aftermath of a Rivalry Showdown
Thursday night’s game in Los Angeles was explosive. Star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch for the third time in the series, prompting manager Mike Shildt to confront the Dodgers’ dugout, leading to a benches-clearing incident and ejections for both managers. Shildt now faces a likely suspension.
“He’s been hit five times by this group,” an angry Shildt said of Tatis. “He’s played a lot of dodgeball. Enough is enough.”
To make matters worse, Tatis’ status is uncertain after X-rays on his hand were negative but more testing is required. This kind of off-field drama and injury news can have a huge impact, a topic often covered in our expert betting guide.
The Stabilizer on the Mound
With so much chaos swirling, the Padres will turn to their best starter, Nick Pivetta (7-2, 3.40 ERA), to be a stabilizing force. Pivetta is coming off a dominant performance in his last start, where he allowed just two runs over seven innings with nine strikeouts.
Confident Royals Come to Town
The Royals arrive in San Diego with newfound confidence. After a long slump, they just completed a surprising three-game road sweep of the Texas Rangers. The series was capped by the first two career home runs from their top rookie prospect, Jac Caglianone.
“It’s something I tried not to think about,” a relieved Caglianone said of getting his first homer. “I just got a nice little relief right there.” The Royals will send veteran Michael Lorenzen (4-7, 4.91) to the mound, creating an interesting pitching matchup on the scores and odds board.
As the Padres try to regroup against a hot Royals team, they face one of the toughest tests for any of the MLB teams. To see who our experts think will win, check out our daily MLB picks.
