Francisco Lindor and the surging Cleveland Indians are set to face off against their divisional rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium in a Saturday showdown. Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast the matchup and the game will get underway at 7:15 p.m. ET.
Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Odds
Bookmakers have Cleveland (-190) as the favorite over Kansas City (+180). If you’re thinking the game’s total is going to go below 9 runs, then bookmakers are putting up even money odds (+100) to play the under. Taking the over return -120 odds. This game currently has a runline of Indians -1.5 (-135) and Royals +1.5 (+115).
The Royals are 52-52 against the spread (ATS), but just 39-66 straight up (SU). The team’s lost 13.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 11.1 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Indians have gone 61-42 SU this year and are 51-51 against the spread. Overall, the team’s accumulated 2.0 units for moneyline bettors, but have lost 0.7 units ATS. Cleveland is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Royals games have had an over/under record of 48-48-8 in 2019. The Indians have been a good under bet with a total record of 43-55-4.
The right-handed Mike Clevinger is getting the start for the visiting Indians. Clevinger is 4-2 with a 3.61 ERA and 65 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with nine strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Kansas City this year.
The Royals are handing the ball to righty Glenn Sparkman (3-6, 4.67 ERA), who has 43 punchouts and 20 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.38. Sparkman is 0-1 with four strikeouts and a 7.15 ERA across two starts against Cleveland this year.
Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.99 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.77 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.33, along with a WHIP of 1.18.
The Indians offense has slashed .249/.326/.424 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game this season, including 4.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Shortstop Francisco Lindor and first baseman Carlos Santana continue to lead Cleveland’s offense. Lindor is slashing .299/.352/.519 with 17 home runs, 42 RBIs, 54 runs and 16 stolen bases. Santana (.282/.405/.518) is up to 21 homers, 54 RBIs and 68 runs scored.
For the home team, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.03, a WHIP of 1.42 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 4.76 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 8.6 K/9. In 51 games against divisional opponents, Royals starters have an ERA of 3.96 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.86.
The Kansas City hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .207/.288/.315 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Royals’ batters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is hitting .302/.357/.488 with 12 home runs, 53 RBIs, 74 runs and 15 stolen bases, while Gordon’s line sits at .282/.356/.446 with 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 59 runs.
The Indians have lost 8.0 units and are 31-38 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 24 of those games, compared to 41 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 12.2 units and are 38-38 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 37 of those games, as opposed to 35 which went under the total.
Indians at Royals Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- Cleveland has recorded 21 extra-base hits over its last five games. Kansas City has 10 XBH over its last five.
- The Indians have won five of their last six games SU.
- Cleveland has recorded 25.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 26.6 over its last five.
- Each team has hit 10 home runs over its last 10 games.
- The Indians have an OPS of .751 this season and an OPS of .762 against right-handed pitchers. The Royals’ OPS stands at .716 overall and .729 against righties.
