Kansas City Royals vs. Philadelphia Phillies Picks and Predictions for Friday, September 12, 2025
It’s the opening game of a three-game interleague series on the diamond in the City of Brotherly Love as the Kansas City Royals travel to face the Philadelphia Phillies Friday night and we have you covered with our Royals vs. Phillies prediction. Kansas City dropped three of four on the road to Cleveland as they fell 3-2 in the finale Thursday. Philadelphia swept a four-game series from the Mets at home, winning the finale 6-4 Thursday. Last season, the Phillies took two of three on the road August 23-25, 2024. Don’t go down on strikes! Increase your bankroll with our MLB Betting Picks! Read more about this Royals vs. Phillies prediction!
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Kansas City Swooning at Wrong Time
Kansas City lost for the fourth time in five games as they fell in the series finale against Cleveland on the road Thursday. The Royals entered Friday 74-73 and stood third in the NL Central, 10 games behind the Tigers for the top spot. They were 4.5 games behind the Mariners for the final wild card spot in the American League playoff picture. Against Cleveland Thursday, Kansas City was held to five hits with no player picking up more than one. Vinnie Pasquantino (his 30th) went deep for the Royals in the opening inning to account for the Royals’ offense as the team was zero for six with runners in scoring position. Stephen Kolek threw 6.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. John Schreiber (3-4) took the loss in relief as he allowed two runs on two hits with no walks and one strikeout in 1.1 innings of work.
Michael Lorenzen gets the call here for the Royals as he makes his 24th start of the season. He is 5-10 with a 4.63 ERA, a 1.327 WHIP, 34 walks and 110 strikeouts over 124.1 innings of work on the season. Lorenzen took the loss in his last start, which came Sunday at home against the Twins. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts in a game the Royals lost 5-1. In his last three starts, Lorenzen is 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, two walks and 16 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of work. Lorenzen makes his 10th career appearance, second start, against the Phillies in this contest. He is 1-3 with a 4.96 ERA, a 1.469 WHIP, nine walks and 20 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of work against them. Lorenzen is 3-2 with one save, a 4.14 ERA, a 1.378 WHIP, 19 walks and 32 strikeouts over 37 innings in 11 career appearances, five starts, at Citizens Bank Park.
Phillies Readying for Postseason
Philadelphia capped a four-game sweep of the Mets at home with Thursday’s win, locking up the NL East for all intents and purposes in the process. The Phillies entered Friday night 87-60 and held an 11-game lead over the Mets for the top spot in the NL East with 15 games to play. Against New York Thursday, Philadelphia banged out 11 hits as Harrison Bader (RBI), Bryce Harper (two RBI), Nick Castellanos (two runs) and Otto Kemp (two runs, three RBI) each had two. Kemp (his sixth) went yard in the victory. Jesus Luzardo (14-6) earned the win as he threw eight innings, allowing four runs on five hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts. Jhoan Duran fanned the side in a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 29th save of the year.
Walker Buehler is on the mound as he makes his 24th appearance, 23rd start, of the season and his Phillies’ debut here. He is 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA, a 1.558 WHIP, 55 walks and 84 strikeouts over 112.1 innings of work on the year. Buehler didn’t factor in the decision in his last appearance, which came in relief with Boston against the Yankees on the road August 24. He threw 2.1 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts of a 7-2 Red Sox loss. In his last three appearances, two starts, Buehler is 0-1 with a 5.84 ERA, a 1.541 WHIP, nine walks and nine strikeouts over 12.1 innings of work. Buehler, in his 155th career major league appearance and 145th start, pitches against the Royals for the first time here. He makes his fifth career appearance, fourth start, at Citizens Bank Park. Buehler is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA, a 1.125 WHIP, six walks and 18 strikeouts over 18.2 innings of work in those contests.
Moneyline Pick for Royals vs. Phillies
- Phillies -130 (4 units)
The Royals picked the worst time for a slump as they enter this game losers of four of five, allowing Cleveland and Texas to jump them in the standings. Kansas City’s struggles putting runs on the board is a major reason why they enter Friday with less than a four percent chance at the postseason. Facing a Phillies team with a world of momentum going for it after sweeping the Mets doesn’t do them any favors either. Buehler sputtered this season with Boston but gets a chance to try and get right with a few low pressure starts ahead of the postseason. We know the damage the Phillies can do at the plate and that’s more than enough to give them the upper hand here, especially at home.
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Over/Under Pick for Royals vs. Guardians
- Over 9 (4 units)
Kansas City has seen the under hit in 85 of their 147 games this season, with one push, entering Friday night. The Royals are 28th in the majors by averaging 3.80 runs per game though they allow 3.88 runs per game, giving them an average of 7.68runs per game. Kansas City puts up 4.13 runs per game on the road, while allowing 4.04 runs per game, giving them an average total of 8.17 runs per contest. Philadelphia has seen the under post a 74-63-10 mark in their first 147 games on the year ahead of Friday’s action. The Phillies are 9th in the majors with 4.82 runs per game and that number climbs to 5.43 runs per game at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia has an average total of 8.80 runs per game but that number climbs to 9.60 runs per game at home. With both pitchers having problems missing bats, take the over here.
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