The Kansas City Royals will head east to Progressive Field to play their divisional foe Cleveland Indians. The matchup will get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET and SportsTime Ohio will be televising the game.
Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Cleveland (-215) as the favorite over Kansas City (+195). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -115 for over 8.5 runs and -105 for under 8.5. Gamblers can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at Royals +1.5 runs (-110) and Indians -1.5 runs (-110).
The Indians are 18-18 SU and 14-22 ATS. The team’s lost 8.0 units for moneyline bettors and 10.0 units against the spread (ATS). Cleveland has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. On the other hand, the Royals are 12-25 SU and have gone 16-20 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 10.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline through the early portions of the season and 7.2 units ATS. Kansas Cityhas covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Cleveland games have an over/under record of 18-17-1 so far in 2018. The Royals have been a decent under bet with a total record of 13-21-2.
Jason Hammel is getting the nod for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Hammel is 0-4 with a 4.78 ERA and 24 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with five strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Cleveland this year (five starts).
The Indians are going with righty Trevor Bauer (2-3, 2.53 ERA), who has 54 strikeouts and 19 walks, as well as a 1.06 WHIP. Bauer is 0-1 with seven strikeouts and a 1.13 ERA over one starts against Kansas City this year.
As a unit, Cleveland’s pitching staff has allowed 4.3 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 3.49 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.40 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 9.0 K/9. In nine games against AL Central opponents, Indians starters have an ERA of 1.13 and the bullpen’s ERA is 1.17.
Cleveland’s hitters are putting up 4.6 runs per contest, including 3.4 per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .216/.260/.407 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Jose Ramirez and shortstop Francisco Lindor have led the Indians’ batters so far. Ramirez is slashing .283/.373/.572 with 10 home runs, 22 RBIs, 23 runs and five stolen bases, while Lindor’s line sits at .292/.355/.558 with 10 homers, 22 RBIs, 28 runs and five steals.
For the visiting squad, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.82 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 7.34 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 6.13, along with a WHIP of 1.36 and a K-per-9 of 6.05.
Royals hitters have slashed .258/.327/.394 on their way to 4.1 runs scored per game this season, including 3.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Right fielder Jorge Soler and third baseman Mike Moustakas have led Kansas City’s offense. Soler is slashing .328/.437/.543 with five home runs, 17 RBIs and 17 runs scored, while Moustakas is hitting .291/.327/.561 with 10 homers, 28 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .144/.245/.258, Soler did not do especially well against righty pitching on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of .103/.235/.138 across 34 such plate appearances.
The Royals have lost 13.2 units and are 8-13 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in seven of those games, compared to 12 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Indians have lost 6.8 units and are 9-14 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 11 of those games, compared to 11 which went under the total.
Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Indians Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Kansas City defense has allowed zero errors over its last five games, compared to eight errors for Cleveland over its last five.
The Royals have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
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