The Cleveland Indians are ready to face off against their division rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. SportsTime Ohio will televise the action and the game will get going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Kansas City (+150) as the underdog to Cleveland (-160). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -120 for over 8.5 runs and +100 for under 8.5. Gamblers can also bet on the game’s runline with the most recent odds sitting at -110 for the Indians -1.5 runs and -110 for the Royals +1.5.
The Indians have gone 89-70 SU this year and are 75-83 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 22.7 units for moneyline gamblers and 19.1 units ATS. Cleveland is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 57-102 SU and 81-77 ATS. The team’s lost 24.8 units for moneyline bettors and 5.6 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.
Royals games have a 68-79-11 over/under record in 2018. The Indians have an over/under record of 75-73-10.
Right-hander Mike Clevinger will get the nod for Cleveland. Clevinger is 12-8 with a 3.07 ERA and 202 strikeouts. He’s 2-0 with 27 strikeouts and a 2.33 ERA against Kansas City this year (four starts).
The Royals will turn to righty Ian Kennedy (3-8, 4.59 ERA), who’s got 103 strikeouts and 39 walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 1.39. Kennedy is 1-0 with eight strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in one start against Cleveland this year.
Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 4.91, a WHIP of 1.41 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.3. The bullpen has a 4.97 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 73 games against AL Central opponents, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.84 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.84.
Kansas City’s hitters are putting up 3.9 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .231/.273/.428 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon have paced the Royals’ offense this year. Merrifield is hitting .304/.368/.439 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs, 87 runs and 42 stolen bases, while Gordon’s line is .244/.324/.371 with 13 homers, 53 RBIs and 55 runs.
In the other dugout, Cleveland’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.40 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.66 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.48, along with a K/9 of 9.33.
The Indians offense has slashed .258/.334/.434 on its way to 5.0 runs scored per game this year, including 5.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Michael Brantley continue to lead Cleveland’s hitters. Lindor is hitting .279/.354/.522 with 37 home runs, 90 RBIs, 126 runs and 23 stolen bases, while Brantley is slashing .309/.365/.472 with 17 homers, 76 RBIs and 88 runs scored.
The Indians have lost 13.6 units and are 56-60 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 55 of those games, as opposed to 55 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 21.9 units and are 54-55 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 51 of those games, compared to 50 that went under.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Cleveland has logged 19 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Kansas City has 17 XBH over its last five.
Kansas City has recorded 20.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.8 over its last five.
The Indians have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 13 over their last 10.
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