Game 1 of this interleague series was interesting to say the least. Padres pitcher Michael Wacha pitched seven innings of one-hit baseball and got the win. On the other side, Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller issued eight walks in less than four innings of work. Tonight former reliever Seth Lugo takes the mound for the Padres and is the top MLB bet for Tuesday, May 16. Don’t forget to check out our OddsShopper Premium Tool for access to more great MLB picks!
Best Royals-Padres Bet: Seth Lugo 4+ Strikeouts
After seven seasons as a New York Met, Seth Lugo made his way over to the San Diego Padres and found a job in the rotation. He spent the last two seasons working in the bullpen and shined, and Lugo has not disappointed now that he is a starter in 2023. The Padres have won four of the seven games Lugo has started, and he is coming off back-to-back quality outings. The Royals are fresh off facing Michael Wacha in his one-hit masterclass, and they continue to struggle. They are right behind the Oakland Athletics for the worst record in baseball, sitting 12-31.
The Royals will have Brady Singer on the mound, who has been one of the most disappointing pitchers in baseball. After a solid 2022 season with an ERA of 3.23, Singer ranks in the bottom-eighth percentile in xERA, exit velocity and hard hit percentage. This Padres lineup is waiting to break out after a sluggish start to May.
Lugo has struck out at least four batters in six of seven starts this season, while the Royals have a bottom-12 strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this month. Back Lugo and the Padres offense at home with confidence against one of the worst teams in baseball.
Best Royals-Padres Bet: Seth Lugo 4+ Strikeouts & Padres Moneyline (-120, DraftKings)
