The struggling Kansas City Royals are trying to avoid dropping their fifth consecutive game when they play host to the Cleveland Indians at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The game gets underway 8:15 p.m. ET and SportsTime Ohio will televise the matchup.
Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Odds
Cleveland (-200) is entering this game as the favorite over Kansas City (+185) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs (-120 for the over and +100 for the under). The game’s current runline odds sit at -140 for picking the Indians -1.5 runs and +120 for the Royals +1.5.
The Indians are 46-37 SU and are 39-43 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 8.9 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 7.8 units ATS. Cleveland is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 25-59 SU and 38-45 ATS. They’ve lost 22.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 14.8 units ATS. Kansas City has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven.
Royals games have a 31-48-4 over/under record so far in 2018. The Indians have an over/under record of 42-38-2.
Shane Bieber is getting the start for the Indians. The right-handed Bieber (3-0, 2.22 ERA) has recorded 27 strikeouts in 24.1 innings so far. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals are planning to start lefty Danny Duffy (4-7, 4.94 ERA), who’s got 83 strikeouts and 46 walks, as well as a 1.49 WHIP. Duffy is 0-2 with five strikeouts and a 12.00 ERA across two starts against Cleveland this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.4 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The club’s starters have a 5.17 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.23 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 6.9 K/9. In 27 games against divisional foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 5.38 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.78.
The Kansas City offense is putting up 3.5 runs per contest, including 3.9 per game against divisional foes and 2.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .205/.243/.286 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have led the Royals’ offense this year. Merrifield is slashing .288/.359/.410 with five home runs, 25 RBIs, 33 runs and 16 steals, while Moustakas is batting .258 with 16 homers, 53 RBIs and 38 runs scored.
For the visiting squad, Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 4.2 runs per game and its starters own a 3.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 9.15 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.10, along with a WHIP of 1.13 and a K-per-9 of 8.65.
Indians hitters have slashed .255/.327/.441 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Shortstop Francisco Lindor and third baseman Jose Ramirez continue to lead Cleveland’s offense. Lindor is slashing .298/.373/.581 with 23 home runs, 55 RBIs, 73 runs and 10 stolen bases, while Ramirez is hitting .298/.402/.612 with 24 homers, 55 RBIs, 58 runs and 15 steals.
The Indians have gained 4.7 units and are 13-10 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 13 of those games, compared to 10 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 26.5 units and are 20-34 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 21 of those games, as opposed to 29 that’ve gone under.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
Cleveland has logged 27 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Kansas City has seven XBH over its last five.
The Indians have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit six over their last 10.
Kansas City has recorded 15.1 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 outings and 15.8 over its last five.
The Royals have dropped five of their last six games SU.
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