The San Diego Padres are set to battle the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 31, 2024. The anticipated start time for this encounter is 08:10 pm, under expected light rain conditions. Pitching for the Padres, Dylan Cease will bring an impressive ERA of 3.289 to the mound, while Michael Wacha, with an ERA of 4.309, will represent the Royals.

In terms of standings within the 2024 NL West Division, the Padres presently occupy the 6th position with a win-loss record of 30-29, maintaining a .510 winning percentage. Their performance in divisional games stands at 12 wins to 13 losses. Recently, their form has shown resilience with 5 wins in their last 10 encounters, although they currently face a single-game losing streak. The Padres have a more commendable road record with 17 wins opposed to 10 losses, compared to their home record of 13 wins against 19 losses. Overall, they have posted 255 runs scored against 250 allowed.

Conversely, the Kansas City Royals hold 4th place in the 2024 AL Central Division. They present a robust win-loss mark of 35-23, achieving a .600 winning percentage. The Royals show strength particularly in home games, boasting a 21-8 record, and a commendable night game performance with 21 wins. They have managed 282 runs scored while limiting opponents to 202 runs.

The odds for this game suggest close competition. The point spread is set at 1.5, favoring the Royals. The over/under is listed at 8.0 runs, indicating expectations for a moderately scoring game. For money line bets, the Padres are slight favorites at -130, contrasting with the Royals at +110. These odds reflect the anticipated competitiveness of this game, combining recent team performance and historical data. Bettors will weigh these aspects heavily, as the slight edge given to the Padres notwithstanding their below-average road performance suggests a closely contested matchup.