The streaking Kansas City Royals are gunning for their fifth win in a row when they play host to the Cleveland Indians at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. SportsTime Ohio will broadcast the matchup and the game gets underway at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Vegas has listed Kansas City (+150) as the underdog to Cleveland (-160). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over for -120 or the under for +100. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at -110 for the Indians -1.5 runs and -110 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are 81-77 against the spread (ATS), but only 57-102 straight up (SU). The team has lost 24.8 units for moneyline bettors and 5.6 units (ATS). The Indians are 89-70 SU and have gone 75-83 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 22.7 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 19.1 units ATS.
Royals games have a 68-79-11 over/under record in 2018. Indians games have gone over 75 times, gone under 73 times and pushed on 10 occasions.
The right-handed Mike Clevinger is projected to start for the visiting Indians. 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 are preparing to start righty Ian Kennedy (3-8, 4.59 ERA), who’s got 103 punchouts and 39 walks, as well as a 1.39 WHIP. Kennedy is 1-0 with eight strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in one start against Cleveland this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.1 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have a 4.91 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.97 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 73 games against AL Central foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.84 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.84.
Kansas City’s offense has produced 3.9 runs per contest, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .231/.273/.428 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Royals’ batters have been led by Whit Merrifield, who is slashing .304/.368/.439 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs, 87 runs and 42 stolen bases.
For the visiting squad, Cleveland’s pitchers have 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 managed an ERA of 4.48, along with a K/9 of 9.33.
Indians hitters have slashed .258/.334/.434 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game this season, including 5.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Cleveland’s offense has been led by Francisco Lindor. Lindor is slashing .279/.354/.522 with 37 home runs, 90 RBIs, 126 runs and 23 stolen bases.
The Royals are coming off a 2-1 victory in the prior game of this series.
Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER
