The Kansas City Royals will be taking on their division rival Cleveland Indians in a Tuesday showdown. Fox Sports Kansas City will showcase the matchup and the opening pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Indians Odds
Cleveland (receiving -230 odds) is the enormous favorite against Kansas City and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total currently stand at +100 for the over and -120 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at -105 for the Royals +1.5 runs and -115 for the Indians -1.5 runs.
The Royals have gone only 27-52 SU this year and are 38-40 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 15.5 units for moneyline bettors and 11.8 units ATS. Kansas City’s covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven. The Indians, on the other hand, are 43-35 SU and 37-40 ATS. The team has lost 3.4 units for moneyline bettors and 3.4 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Indians games have a 33-42-2 over/under record so far in 2019. The Royals have an over/under record of 36-35-7.
Glenn Sparkman will get the start for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Sparkman is 2-3 with a 3.62 ERA and 27 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Indians this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-0, 1.80 ERA and two strikeouts across five innings).
The Indians will turn to righty Shane Bieber (6-3, 3.86 ERA), who’s got 116 strikeouts and 21 walks, along with a 1.08 WHIP. Bieber made two starts against the Royals in 2018, posting a perfect 2-0 record with a 6.35 ERA.
As a unit, Cleveland’s pitchers have given up 4.1 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starting pitching staff has a 4.16 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.21 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 9.3 K/9. In 31 games against AL Central opponents, Indians starters have an ERA of 4.08 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.71.
Cleveland’s hitters have put up 4.4 runs per contest, including 4.2 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .265/.324/.444 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
First baseman Carlos Santana and shortstop Francisco Lindor have paced the Indians’ hitters this year. Santana is slashing .291/.413/.538 with 17 home runs, 47 RBIs and 54 runs scored, while Lindor’s line is .289/.352/.498 with 12 homers, 27 RBIs, 38 runs and 11 stolen bases.
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 5.00 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 7.38 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.79, along with a K/9 of 8.88.
The Royals offense has slashed .243/.309/.402 on its way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Kansas City’s offensive production has been fueled by second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Adalberto Mondesi. Merrifield is slashing .303/.350/.506 with 11 home runs, 40 RBIs, 56 runs and 11 stolen bases, while Mondesi is hitting .269/.302/.441 with six homers, 44 RBIs, 40 runs and 27 steals.
The Royals have lost 12.3 units and are 26-29 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 26 of those games, compared to 25 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Indians have lost 8.4 units and are 23-29 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 19 of those games, as opposed to 31 that’ve cashed the under.
Royals at Indians MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has recorded 16 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Cleveland has 15 XBH over its last five.
- The Royals have a total OPS of .711 this season and an OPS of .728 against right-handed pitchers. The Indians’ OPS sits at .724 overall and .733 versus righties.
- The Indians have won six of their last seven games SU.
- Kansas City has recorded 22.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.4 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Indians have hit 16 over their last 10.
