Kansas City Royals vs. New York Mets Picks and Prediction for Thursday, July 9, 2026
Use Code SSWC The Kansas City Royals visit the New York Mets on Thursday at 1:10 PM ET at Citi Field in Queens, New York. Kansas City is 38-54 and sits fifth in the AL Central, while New York is also 38-54 and remains fifth in the NL East. The Royals opened this series with a 16-12 victory on Tuesday after winning three straight against Philadelphia, giving them victories in three of their last five games. The Mets have dropped three of their last five contests and are looking to avoid another home series loss. Build your bankroll with our free MLB picks.
Kansas City Royals Looking to Keep the Bats Rolling
Kansas City enters this matchup with plenty of offensive momentum after scoring 36 runs across its last four victories, including Tuesday's 16-run outburst at Citi Field. The Royals are batting .248 as a team with 400 runs, 768 hits, 93 home runs, a .319 on-base percentage, and a .398 slugging percentage. Bobby Witt Jr. continues to lead the lineup with a .290 batting average, 98 hits, and 30 stolen bases. Jac Caglianone has clubbed a team-high 14 home runs, while Carter Jensen leads Kansas City with 48 RBI.
Kansas City's pitching staff has struggled for much of the season, carrying a 4.84 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP while allowing opponents to hit .263. The Royals have recorded 703 strikeouts but have also surrendered 116 home runs, making run prevention an ongoing concern. Even so, the offense has helped overcome those issues during the current three-game winning streak.
Injuries: Stephen Kolek, Nick Mears, Vinnie Pasquantino, Carlos Estévez, Maikel Garcia.
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New York Mets Looking to Bounce Back at Home
New York performed solidly offensively despite its record, but inconsistency has remained a problem. The Mets are batting .233 with 381 runs, 723 hits, 107 home runs, a .302 on-base percentage, and a .381 slugging percentage. Juan Soto has been the clear offensive leader, batting .299 with 20 home runs, 49 RBI, and a .410 on-base percentage. Bo Bichette leads the club with 96 hits and 50 RBI, while Carson Benge is batting .262 with 11 home runs. Despite scoring 20 runs during consecutive wins over Atlanta before this series, the Mets surrendered 16 runs in Tuesday's opener.
The Mets have been better on the mound than their record suggests, posting a 4.40 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP while limiting opponents to a .239 batting average. New York pitchers have struck out 844 batters, one of the better totals in baseball, although the staff has struggled to consistently support an offense that ranks near the bottom of the league in batting average.
Injuries: Luis Robert Jr., Justin Hagenman, Dedniel Núñez, Marcus Semien, Clay Holmes.
Pitching Matchup
Kansas City Royals – Michael Wacha
Wacha enters with a 5-6 record, a 3.45 ERA, and a 1.16 WHIP across 114.2 innings. He has allowed only 102 hits and 13 home runs while striking out 91 batters against 31 walks. Wacha has consistently worked deep into games this season and gives Kansas City a clear advantage on the mound entering Thursday's matchup.
New York Mets – Sean Manaea
Manaea is 1-4 with a 5.16 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP through 68.0 innings. He has recorded 68 strikeouts but has allowed 70 hits while giving up eight home runs. Facing a Kansas City lineup coming off a 16-run performance will present another difficult challenge for the veteran left-hander.
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Mets Game Pick
- Kansas City Royals
Kansas City enters with the hotter offense and a significant advantage in the starting pitching matchup. The Royals have scored 36 runs during their last four wins and already proved they can generate offense against New York's pitching staff in the series opener. Wacha has been far more reliable than Manaea throughout the season, and Kansas City's lineup has shown far better form over the past week. With momentum on its side and the stronger starter taking the mound, the Royals will win another road game.
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Mets Over/Under Pick
- Over
Tuesday's opener produced 28 total runs, and this matchup again features two clubs capable of putting runners on base. Kansas City has caught fire offensively, while Manaea enters with a 5.16 ERA against one of the hottest lineups in baseball over the past week. Although Wacha has pitched well, New York still has dangerous hitters led by Soto and Bichette, who can contribute offensively. Expect enough scoring opportunities from both clubs to cash this matchup over the total.
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