The Cleveland Indians are ready to face their divisional nemesis Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The matchup will begin at 2:15 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to SportsTime Ohio.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Cleveland (-215) is favored over Kansas City (+195) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 9 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total stand at -105 for the over and -115 for the under. The game’s runline odds sit at -145 for taking the Indians -1.5 runs and +125 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are 40-90 straight up (SU) and 61-68 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 34.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 17.6 units (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven. On the other hand, the Indians are 73-56 SU and have gone 61-67 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 12.5 units for moneyline gamblers and 13.8 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven.
Royals games have a 55-65-9 over/under record in 2018. The Indians have an over/under record of 63-59-6.
Shane Bieber is getting the start for the visiting Indians. The right-handed Bieber is 7-2 with a 4.36 ERA and 76 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with two strikeouts and a 6.00 ERA against Kansas City this year.
The Royals are sending righty Jorge Lopez (0-3, 3.99 ERA) to the mound. Lopez has 21 strikeouts and 18 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.60 WHIP. Lopez is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA against Cleveland this year.
Kansas City’s pitchers have yielded 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have a 5.26 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.12 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 52 games against AL Central foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 5.19 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.08.
Kansas City’s hitters are putting up 3.7 runs per contest, including 4.2 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .259/.306/.457 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Royals’ hitters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez. Merrifield is slashing .306/.374/.433 with nine home runs, 46 RBIs, 61 runs and 28 stolen bases, while Perez’s line is .232/.272/.432 with 22 homers, 64 RBIs and 42 runs.
For the visitors, Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 3.42 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.41 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.85, along with a K/9 of 8.88.
The Indians offense has slashed .258/.331/.438 on its way to 5.0 runs scored per game this season, including 5.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Michael Brantley have led Cleveland’s offense. Lindor is slashing .285/.364/.533 with 29 home runs, 76 RBIs, 105 runs and 19 stolen bases, while Brantley (.300/.356/.467) is up to 14 homers, 69 RBIs and 73 runs scored.
The Indians have lost 9.6 units and are 45-50 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 47 of those games, compared to 43 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 28.9 units and are 39-49 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 41 of those games, as opposed to 40 that’ve gone under.
Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Cleveland has tallied 14 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Kansas City has 18 XBH over its last five.
Kansas City has posted 19.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 20.6 over its last five.
Each team has hit 12 home runs over its last 10 games.
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