Edinson Volquez (2-3, 3.19 ERA) and the Kansas City Royals (23-14) meet Nathan Eovaldi (3-1, 4.14 ERA) and the New York Yankees (22-16) in the last of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium. The Yankees won the last game 5-1 and the series is currently tied 1-1. The game gets underway at 2:10 p.m. ET on Sunday, May. 17 and will air on YES and FSN-KC.
In his last start, Volquez pitched 5.0 innings, giving up four runs, striking out three and walking three in a 7-6 loss to the Rangers. Lorenzo Cain (.323, 26 Rs, 3 HRs, 19 RBIs, 6 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday. The Yankees were unsuccessful the last time Eovaldi pitched. He did not do well, pitching, going 7.1 innings, allowing four runs, striking out six and walking two in a 4-2 loss to the Rays. Mark Teixeira (.252, 19 Rs, 11 HRs, 28 RBIs) went 1 for 3 yesterday with one run.
Kansas City is a -135 favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is eight runs. The Royals are 11-8 as the favorite and have an overall money line of +966. The Royals lead the AL in hits with 10.2 per game. Below average play has been the norm lately for the Kansas City pitchers. The Royals have given up an average of 4.6 runs to opponents in their last 10 games, above their season average of 3.7 runs per game.
Moving on to the away team, the Yankees come into this game with a win percentage of .556 when playing as the underdog (10-8) and an overall money line of +443. Over the past 10 matchups, they are 4-6 SU and have played poorly as the underdog with a 1-3 record. The Yankees are known for their power, smashing 46 home runs. Opposing pitchers have routinely struggled to strike out the New York batters, who rank fifth in the AL with 7.1 strikeouts per road game. Switching gears to New York’s pitching staff, they allow just 2.7 walks per game, good for fifth in the AL.
The Royals will take on a right-hander (Eovaldi) in this game and have a 14-9 record against right-handed starting pitchers this season. Taking the hill against the Yankees will be the right-hander Volquez. They sport a 16-11 record against righties.
Predictions: SU Winner – KC, O/U – Over
Notes
When leading after 7 innings, Kansas City is 10-5, while New York is 8-10.
Having scored one run in their last game, the Royals are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup. The Yankees have a 5-0 record in games where opponents scored that many runs or fewer.
When they are outhit, the Royals are 1-9. The Yankees have a 4-12 record when opponents outhit them.
Ranking 23rd in home runs, Kansas City has hit 28 this season. New York ranks third with 46 home runs.
Ranking first in hits, Kansas City has earned 10.25 per game this season. New York ranks ninth with 8.43 hits.
Ranking ninth, New York is in the top 10 of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.736). Kansas City ranks in the top five at third with an OPS of .775.
When the Yankees allow at least one home run, they are 12-10, well-matched with the Royals who are 12-9 when allowing at least one homer.
