Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round as we delve into a classic clash between the Houston Astros and the Kansas City Royals. Their challenge commences on the batter-friendly battleground of Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Let's talk starters, shall we? The Astros' mound ambassador Hayden Wesneski boasts an impressive 3.91 ERA and 9.8 K/9 sprinkled over just 4 merry appearances. For the Royals, we've got Seth Lugo, the fellow with a marginally less impressive 4.09 ERA, 6.6 K/9 over 5 appearances, and a WHIP that's, ahem, whipped a bit higher than we'd ideally like. You know the saying, "it's not the size of the boat…"

Now if you're into betting (not saying I am, mind you), recall Houston's lineup is fronted by Jose Altuve, who's swinging .283 with 3 homers and a spring in his step shown by 3 steals. Additionally, they've got the always captivating Jake Meyers, with a .265 batting average and 7 stolen bases. As far as the Royals go, their batting melange includes Mark Canha and Bobby Witt Jr., sporting a blistering .348 notably accompanied by 0 HRs and a hearty .313 batting average respectively.

Glance in the rearview mirror, and you'll find the Astros have been, mostly, sitting in the throne in their recent royal rumbles. In their last few skirmishes, the travel-weary Royals have been left to loiter with three 2-runs on the Astros' home turf. Astros' regular season record? Presently sitting at a comfortable 13-11 while the Royals are 2 steps behind at 12-14. Harsh world, ain't it?

Get a load of the recent rumble records for these two contenders. Tails high, Astros have been clawing out victories with the exception of a single hiccup against San Diego. Meanwhile, the Royals, albeit with a penchant for skirting it close, have been doing just enough to keep the scorekeepers busy in their favor.

So, will the Royals find their rhythm at home, or will the Astros continue to play the role of the cruel guest?

Albert’s Prediction: Houston Astros by 2