The Braves look nothing but a very dubious favorite at KC tonight; after getting swept on the weekend in Arlington, Atlanta is on a 68-94 pace, and now in the lead for MLB's "most disappointing team" for 2025. There is also apparently some respect in the marketplace for Braves starter Spencer Strider...why, we're not sure, as Atlanta has lost in nine of his thirteen starts this season, and he hasn't overwhelmed in July (3.42 ERA in four starts). We can understand a bit of reluctance to back the Royals with 45-year-old Rich Hill on the mound, but he was serviceable in his return game last Tuesday at Wrigley Field, and KC is on a modest 12-7 uptick. Play Royals on Money Line

The Braves have won six of the last seven meetings with the Royals, but the Braves aren’t the team that we've known for the last three and a half decades. The Braves are 44-60 and have lost five straight heading into this game at Kansas City. They look as though they've given up and are ready to trade some of their players. The Royals send out 45-year-old pitcher Rich Hill to the mound for his second start, while the Braves go with Spencer Strider, who has lost four of his past five starts. The Royals have won five of their last seven and play hard every day with hopes they go on a wild card run, sitting four games back. Royals to win.

FanDuel is offering strong value here, with the consensus line sitting at +315. Sean Murphy faces the oldest player in the majors, Rich Hill, and while he's just 1-for-8 against him in his career, that one hit was a home run. Murphy is hitting just .233 overall and .227 against lefties, but the power is real—he has a .606 SLG and 7 home runs in just 66 at-bats against left-handed pitchers this season. We set Murphy's line at +340 to homer.