The Los Angeles Angels (65-73) and the Kansas City Royals (70-68) play the second game of a 3-game series Wednesday. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Angels vs. Royals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Angels lead 1-0

The Angels opened the series with a 5-1 win at the Royals Tuesday, cashing as +144 underdogs with the Under (9) hitting. SP Mitch Farris (win, 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K) won his MLB debut, and DH Jo Adell hit a go-ahead 2-run homer in the sixth inning. Los Angeles is 7½ games back of the Seattle Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot and has a 0.1% chance of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs.com.

Royals 1B Vinnie Pasquantino drove in the team’s only run with a sacrifice fly in the third. Kansas City’s top 5 hitters went a combined 1-for-16, with SS Bobby Witt Jr. providing the lone hit — a triple in the third. The Royals are 2½ games out of the final AL Wild Card.

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Angels at Royals projected starters

RHP Caden Dana vs. RHP Ryan Bergert

Dana (0-0, 7.50 ERA) makes his first start and third appearance. The rookie has allowed 7 hits and 5 walks with 6 K’s through 6 innings.

Last appearance: 3 relief IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 4 K in 6-2 home defeat vs. Miami Marlins May 24Has never faced Royals2025 stats with Triple-A Salt Lake: 6-9, 5.93 ERA (82 IP, 54 ER), 1.59 WHIP, 9.3 K/9 in 18 starts

Bergert (2-1, 2.67 ERA) makes his 13th start and 17th appearance, pitching for the Royals and the San Diego Padres this season. The rookie has a 1.11 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 through 64 innings.

Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K in 12-1 victory at Chicago White Sox Aug. 272025 stats at Kauffman Stadium: 1 start (Aug. 17), no-decision, 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER (2 R), 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 6-2 victory vs. White SoxWas acquired July 31 from PadresHas never faced Angels

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Angels at Royals odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:43 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Angels +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Royals -180 (bet $180 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Angels +1.5 (-140) | Royals -1.5 (+115)Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -102 | U: -118)Angels at Royals picks and predictionsPrediction

Royals 5, Angels 3

Kansas City (-180) will likely win, but the straddle is too high in this market.

PASS on the moneyline.

The Royals are still alive in the Wild Card race and should bounce back after losing as -156 favorites in the opener. They’ve won 2 of Bergert’s last 3 starts by 4 or more runs and 8 of their last 14 home games by 2 or more runs.

BET ROYALS -1.5 (+115).

Bergert has allowed 2 or fewer ER in all 5 of his starts since joining Kansas City.

The concern for the Under, however, is Dana, who has posted a 7.50 ERA over 6 innings this season. The smarter play is to focus on fading Los Angeles’ offense rather than worrying about whether the Royals will rebound after their top 5 hitters went 1-for-16 in the opener.

BET ANGELS TOTAL RUNS UNDER 3.5 (-102).

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