This is an 8* TOTAL on the UNDER Royals/Astros.

These teams have been playing to some higher-scoring games of late, but we're expecting those trends to end this evening.

Kansas City has seen the total go OVER the number in three straight after yesterday's 9-7 defeat here. Note though that the Royals have seen the total go UNDER the number in six of their last eight in trying to avenge two or more straight road losses against an opponent.

The Astros have won eight in a row and have seen the total go OVER the number in four of their last five.

Brad Keller (3-9, 4.24 ERA) gets the nod for the visitors and he has pitched better than his win/loss record would indicate.

The home side counters with Christian Javier (6-3, 2.58), who owns a sharp 95 to 24 strikeout to walk ratio, and who has been at his best in front of the home town crowd as well this season, as he's 4-2 with a tiny 1.84 ERA in Houston this year.

The situation and the numbers/trends all point to the UNDER as the correct call in this one.

Good luck, NP