The Royals are looking to snap a three game losing streak at home versus Houston tonight, but they had won eight of nine prior to this mini slump. Two of their last three games have been decided by a single run, and my money is on the Royals as an underdog on the runline tonight.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - Chris Young will go for the Royals, and he's been solid of late. The Royals have won back to back games with Young on the hill. The veteran is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in five home starts. The Astros counter with Mike Fiers, who owns an ERA of 6.19 in six appearances on the road.

2. Batter vs. Pitcher - Fiers hasn't fooled Kansas City's big bats, the lineup as a whole is batting .325 against the right-hander. Eric Hosmer is 2-for-5 lifetime versus Fiers, and he's hitting .328 at home this season.

3. X-Factor - The Astros are 1-5 in Fiers' last six road starts.

Selection: This is a play on the Kansas City Royals 1.5 (8*)