The Cleveland Indians are set to take on their divisional rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. SportsTime Ohio will televise the action and the opening pitch will be at 7:15 p.m. ET.
Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Kansas City (+205) as the underdog to Cleveland (-225). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at even money (+100) for over 8 runs and -120 for under 8. You can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at -150 for the Indians -1.5 runs and +130 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are 82-77 against the spread (ATS)despite being only 57-103 straight up (SU). They’ve lost 23.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.6 units (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Indians have gone 90-70 SU this year and are 75-84 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 24.2 units for moneyline bettors and 20.1 units ATS. Cleveland is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has cashed in three of those seven.
Royals games have a 68-80-11 over/under record in 2018. The Indians have an over/under record of 75-74-10.
Corey Kluber will get the start for the visiting Indians. The right-handed Kluber is 20-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 216 strikeouts. He’s 3-1 with 25 strikeouts and a 3.24 ERA against Kansas City this year (four starts).
The Royals are sending righty Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.42 ERA) to the mound. Junis has 158 punchouts and 42 walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.27. Junis is 1-2 with 15 strikeouts and a 6.00 ERA over three starts against Cleveland this year.
Cleveland’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 9.64 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.55, along with a K-per-9 of 9.32.
Indians hitters have slashed .259/.335/.435 on their way to 5.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Cleveland’s hitters have been paced by shortstop Francisco Lindor and left fielder Michael Brantley, who’ve collectively belted 54 home runs. Lindor is slashing .279/.353/.519 with 37 home runs, 91 RBIs, 127 runs and 23 steals. Brantley has a .309 average with 17 homers, 76 RBIs and 88 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff has allowed 5.2 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.92, a WHIP of 1.41 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 5.09 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 74 games against AL Central opponents, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.86 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.10.
Kansas City’s offense has put up 3.9 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .232/.277/.407 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Royals’ batters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is hitting .303/.366/.438 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs, 87 runs and 42 stolen bases, and Gordon’s line is .244/.323/.369 with 13 homers, 53 RBIs and 55 runs.
The Indians have lost 15.1 units and are 56-61 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 55 of those games, compared to 56 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 20.6 units and are 55-55 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 51 of those games, compared to 51 that’ve gone under.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has cashed in five of Kansas City’s last seven games.
Cleveland has recorded 27.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 31.8 over its last five.
The Indians have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
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