Kansas City Royals vs New York Mets Betting Pick & Prediction for 7/9

MLB game preview

The Kansas City Royals will visit the New York Mets at Citi Field. The game is set for Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 1:10 PM. Both teams have similar records, with the Royals at 38-55 and the Mets at 39-54.

The Royals are led by manager Matt Quatraro. Michael Wacha will be on the mound for them. The Mets, managed by interim Andy Green, will have Sean Manaea starting. Fans can catch the game on ROYL under warm conditions with broken clouds.

Kansas City Royals Team Preview

The Kansas City Royals have been swinging the bats well in recent games. In a 16-12 win against the Mets on July 7th, they collected 19 hits, including 10 for extra bases. Tyler Tolbert had a standout performance with five hits, including a home run, and four runs scored.

The Royals’ pitching has been a mix of ups and downs. Michael Wacha will start in the upcoming game with a 3.45 ERA for the season. In his last start against the Phillies on July 4th, Wacha allowed four runs over six innings, giving up three home runs.

On the season, the Royals rank 8th in batting average with a .248 mark. They have shown power with 93 home runs, ranking them 18th. The team is also efficient on the bases with 73 stolen bases, placing them 7th in the league.

Royals vs Mets Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: Kansas City Royals vs. New York Mets
  • Venue: Citi Field in New York, NY
  • Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Royals +124, Mets -148

New York Mets Team Preview

The New York Mets are coming off a win against the Kansas City Royals with a score of 6-2. Christian Scott was solid on the mound, allowing no earned runs in five innings. A.J. Ewing contributed with a home run and two hits in the game.

In their previous game, the Mets lost 16-12 to the Royals. A.J. Ewing had a standout performance, going 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Despite the loss, the Mets managed to hit two home runs during the game.

Against the Atlanta Braves, the Mets secured a close 7-6 win. Freddy Peralta pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up only one earned run. Juan Soto and Carson Benge each hit home runs to help the team win.

BTB Betting Pick

The Mets are favored to win with a moneyline of -148. They have a stronger pitching staff with a better earned run average and batting average against compared to the Royals. Given these factors, the Mets are the recommended pick to win this game, with a projected score of Mets 5, Royals 4.

The total for the game is set at 9.0 runs. Both teams have shown average hitting and pitching stats this season. Considering the Mets’ better pitching and the Royals’ lower batting average, the game is likely to stay under the total. The recommendation is to take the under 9.0 runs.