The Kansas City Royals will head east to take on their AL Central foe Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. The game gets underway 4:10 p.m. ET and SportsTime Ohio will televise the matchup.
Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Kansas City (+180) as the underdog to Cleveland (-190). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -110 for over 9.5 runs and -110 for under 9.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at -125 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +105 for the Indians -1.5.
The Indians are 77-59 straight up (SU) and 65-70 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 14.8 units for moneyline bettors and 13.7 units (ATS). On the other hand, the Royals have gone 45-91 SU this year and are 66-69 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 28.6 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 11.7 units ATS.
Cleveland games have an over/under record of 65-63-7 in 2018. Kansas City has been a decent under bet with a total record of 58-67-10.
Jakob Junis will get the start for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Junis (7-12, 4.53 ERA) has racked up 139 strikeouts in 146 innings so far. He’s 0-2 with nine strikeouts and a 9.82 ERA against Cleveland this year (two starts).
The Indians are handing the ball to righty Adam Plutko (4-4, 4.94 ERA), who’s got 44 strikeouts and 19 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.25. Plutko has yet to face the Royals this year and did not pitch in the majors in 2017.
Cleveland’s pitching staff has allowed 4.0 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 3.40, a WHIP of 1.15 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.5. The bullpen has a 4.77 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9.0 K/9. In 60 games against AL Central foes, Indians starters have an ERA of 2.62 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.32.
The Cleveland hitters are putting up 5.0 runs per outing, including 5.3 per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .212/.276/.327 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor and left fielder Michael Brantley have led the Indians’ offense this year. Lindor is hitting .284/.360/.517 with 29 home runs, 78 RBIs, 111 runs and 22 stolen bases, while Brantley’s line is .304/.358/.467 with 14 homers, 70 RBIs and 76 runs.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.13 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.43 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.17, along with a WHIP of 1.45.
Royals hitters have slashed .245/.308/.386 on their way to 3.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 7.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (5-0 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez continue to lead Kansas City’s hitters. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .312/.377/.448 with 11 home runs, 51 RBIs, 69 runs and 30 steals, while Perez (.235/.274/.438) is up to 23 homers, 65 RBIs and 44 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 24.2 units and are 43-50 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 44 of those games, as opposed to 42 that’ve gone under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Indians have lost 10.7 units and are 49-52 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 49 of those games, compared to 47 that’ve gone under.
Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The over has cashed in three of Kansas City’s last seven contests.
The Royals have won seven of their last eight games SU.
Kansas City has recorded 26.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 31.6 over its last five.
The Royals have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games. The Indians have hit seven over their last 10.
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