The Cleveland Indians will head west to Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium to face their AL Central rival Kansas City Royals. SportsTime Ohio will televise the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Cleveland (-215) is favored over Kansas City (+195) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). Gamblers can also bet on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds sitting at Indians -1.5 runs (-145) and Royals +1.5 runs (+125).
The Royals are 38-90 straight up (SU) and 59-68 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 35.3 units for moneyline bettors and 19.9 units (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Indians are 73-54 SU and have gone 61-65 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 9.4 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 11.2 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Kansas City games have a 55-65-7 over/under record in 2018. Cleveland has an over/under record of 63-58-5.
Mike Clevinger is getting the nod for the visiting Indians. The right-handed Clevinger (9-7, 3.25 ERA) has recorded 155 punchouts in 157.2 innings so far. He’s 1-0 with nine strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals are sending righty Brad Keller (6-5, 3.32 ERA) to the mound. Keller has 67 punchouts and 40 walks to his name, as well as a 1.35 WHIP. Keller is 1-0 with two strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Cleveland this year.
Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.38 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.81, along with a WHIP of 1.15 and a K/9 of 8.95.
Indians hitters have slashed .258/.332/.439 on their way to 5.1 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 contests (3-2 SU).
Shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Michael Brantley continue to lead Cleveland’s offense. Lindor is hitting .288/.368/.540 with 29 home runs, 76 RBIs, 105 runs and 19 stolen bases, while Brantley is hitting .301 with 14 homers, 68 RBIs and 73 runs scored.
For the home team, Kansas City’s pitching staff has yielded 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has a 5.30 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.16 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 50 divisional games, Royals starters have an ERA of 5.31 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.18.
The Kansas City hitters are putting up 3.6 runs per outing, including 4.1 per game against divisional foes and 2.6 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .222/.266/.371 over its last five matchups and is 0-5 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez have led the Royals’ hitters this year. Merrifield is hitting .306/.374/.433 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 60 runs and 28 stolen bases, and Perez’s line sits at .231/.268/.424 with 21 homers, 61 RBIs and 40 runs scored.
The Indians have lost 7.5 units and are 45-49 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 47 of those games, as opposed to 43 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 29.9 units and are 37-49 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 41 of those games, as opposed to 40 which went under the total.
Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER
