The Cleveland Indians will be taking on their divisional rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. SportsTime Ohio is in line to showcase the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 3:15 p.m. ET.
Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Odds
The Royals are 82-78 against the spread (ATS)despite being only 58-103 straight up (SU). The team has lost 24.4 units for moneyline bettors and 5.6 units (ATS). The Indians are 90-71 SU and have gone 76-84 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 23.2 units for moneyline bettors and 19.1 units ATS.
Royals games have an over/under record of 69-80-11 in 2018. The Indians have an over/under record of 76-74-10.
Right-hander Carlos Carrasco will get the start for Cleveland. Carrasco (16-10, 3.42 ERA) has recorded 225 strikeouts in 187 innings so far. He’s 1-0 with four strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA against Kansas City this year.
The Royals are sending lefty Eric Skoglund (1-5, 5.40 ERA) to the mound. Skoglund has 46 punchouts and 17 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.23 WHIP. Skoglund has yet to face the Indians this year, but he made two starts against them in 2017, putting together a 0-2 record with a 29.70 ERA.
Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.40 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 9.65 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.64, along with a WHIP of 1.14.
The Indians offense has slashed .259/.335/.435 on its way to 5.1 runs scored per game this season, including 5.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Shortstop Francisco Lindor and left fielder Michael Brantley continue to lead Cleveland’s hitters. Lindor is slashing .277/.351/.516 with 37 home runs, 91 RBIs, 127 runs and 23 stolen bases, while Brantley (.309/.363/.469) is up to 17 homers, 76 RBIs and 89 runs scored.
For the home team, Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.2 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have a 4.92 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.08 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 75 games against AL Central opponents, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.86 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.08.
The Kansas City hitters are putting up 4.0 runs per outing, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .260/.313/.425 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Royals’ offense has been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is hitting .304/.368/.439 with 12 home runs, 60 RBIs, 88 runs and 44 stolen bases, while Gordon’s line is .245/.324/.370 with 13 homers, 54 RBIs and 56 runs.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
Cleveland has tallied 21 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Kansas City has 17 XBH over its last five.
The Royals have won five of their last six games SU.
Cleveland has posted 28.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 30.2 over its last five.
The Indians have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 14 over their last 10.
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