The Cleveland Indians will take on their divisional rival Kansas City Royals in a Sunday showdown. The action will begin at 2:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the game.
Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Odds
Cleveland (-175) is the favorite over Kansas City (+165) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 9.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total currently stand at -105 for the under and -115 for the over. Gamblers can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds coming in at Indians -1.5 runs (-120) and Royals +1.5 runs (+100).
The Indians are 62-42 SU and are 52-51 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle very much this year, gaining 3.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 0.6 units ATS. Cleveland is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 39-67 SU and 52-53 ATS. They’ve lost 14.2 units for moneyline bettors and 12.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Kansas City games have an over/under record of 49-48-8 in 2019. The Indians have been a good under bet with a total record of 44-55-4.
Trevor Bauer will get the nod for Cleveland. The right-handed Bauer is 9-7 with a 3.49 ERA and 179 strikeouts. He’s 2-0 with 18 strikeouts and a 4.26 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals are putting the ball in the left hand of Danny Duffy (4-5, 4.32 ERA, 1.36 WHIP), who’s got 80 punchouts and 32 walks. Duffy is 0-1 with three strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA in one start against Cleveland this year.
Kansas City’s pitchers have yielded 5.1 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has a 5.11 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.73 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 8.6 K/9. In 52 games against AL Central foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.14 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.80.
Kansas City’s hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .209/.287/.275 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Royals’ batters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is hitting .302/.357/.486 with 12 home runs, 54 RBIs, 74 runs and 15 stolen bases, while Gordon’s line sits at .285/.358/.448 with 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 59 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Cleveland’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.95 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 9.76 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.31, along with a K/9 of 9.18.
Indians hitters have slashed .250/.327/.427 on their way to 4.6 runs scored per game this season, including 4.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Cleveland’s hitters have been led by shortstop Francisco Lindor and first baseman Carlos Santana, who collectively have launched 39 home runs. Lindor is slashing .303/.355/.528 with 18 home runs, 43 RBIs, 56 runs and 16 steals, while Santana (.282/.405/.518) has produced 21 homers, 54 RBIs and 68 runs scored.
The Indians have gained 10.0 units and are 20-13 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 19 of those games, compared to 14 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 13.2 units and are 38-39 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 38 of those games, compared to 35 that went under the total.
Indians vs. Royals Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Cleveland has recorded 20 extra-base hits over its last five games. Kansas City has six XBH over its last five.
- The Indians have an OPS of .754 this season, including an OPS of .725 against left-handed pitchers. The Royals’ OPS sits at .714 overall and .690 against southpaws.
- The Indians have won six of their last seven games SU.
- Kansas City has posted 21.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 18.2 over its last five.
- The Indians have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit eight over their last 10.
