The Cleveland Indians are set to play host to the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. SportsTime Ohio will be airing the matchup and the first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians Odds
Vegas is listing Cleveland (-105) as the underdog to Kansas City (-115). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -120 for over 7.5 runs and +100 for under 7.5. The game’s current runline odds stand at +187 for betting the Royals +1.5 runs and -205 for the Indians -1.5.
The Indians are 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS. The team has lost 3.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.7 units against the spread (ATS). The Royals are 1-3 SU and have gone 2-2 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 2.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline in this young season and 1.1 units ATS.
Cleveland games have an over/under record of 3-3 so far in 2018. The Royals have an over/under record of 1-3.
The Royals have lost 2.3 units and are 1-1 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to one that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Indians have lost 0.5 units and are 0-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to one that’ve gone under.
Danny Duffy (0-1, 11.25 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Royals. The southpaw Duffy started 24 games last year and finished the season 9-10 overall with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He made three starts against the Indians in 2017 and put together a 0-3 record against them with a 4.60 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
The Indians have tabbed righty Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 7.94 ERA) as their starter. Carrasco struck out 226 hitters over 200 innings last year (with only 46 walks), while finishing the season 18-6 overall with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He recorded three starts against the Royals a year ago and assembled a 2-1 record with a 4.50 ERA and 16 strikeouts.
As a unit, Cleveland’s pitching staff has given up 4.7 runs per game overall this year. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 5.03 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.98 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 7.1 K/9. In zero games against divisional opponents, Indians starters have an ERA of and the bullpen’s ERA is .
The Cleveland offense has put up 3.5 runs per outing so far this season and the team has a slash-line of .160/.261/.314 to begin the year.
Edwin Encarnacion and Yonder Alonso have led the Indians’ hitters this year. Encarnacion is hitting .200/.333/.650 with four hits, four RBIs and four runs scored, and Alonso is batting .227 with five hits, five RBIs and five runs.
Alonso appeared to have some trouble facing lefty pitching last season. Across 80 plate appearances, he slashed .181/.263/.417 (compared to his overall season line of .265/.364/.500).
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 6.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.50 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 7.77 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 9.00, along with a WHIP of 1.32 and a K-per-9 of 6.92.
The Royals offense has not warmed up yet, slashing only .197/.266/.291 on its way to 3.0 runs scored per game in 2018.
Cheslor Cuthbert and Lucas Duda have led Kansas City’s offense. Cuthbert is hitting .400/.462/.500 with four hits and two RBIs, while Duda is hitting .200/.273/.500 with two hits and five RBIs.
Cuthbert didn’t perform especially well against righty pitching on the road last year. Across 52 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .188/.231/.208 (his total season line was .231/.275/.322).
Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Indians MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Indians went 12-7 SU against the Royals last season.
The Indians have lost three of their last four games SU
The Royals’ bullpen posted an ERA of 3.82 against the Indians last year.
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