The Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Guardians meet Friday in MLB action from Progressive Field. This will be the second installment in a four-game weekend series. In the Thursday opener, the Guardians bagged a five-run win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Kansas City Royals 

The Royals took on the Twins this week and got swept in a three-game series. On Thursday versus Cleveland, Kansas City was out-hit 11-6 in a 6-1 loss. Starter Jordan Lyles managed 5.0 innings, one earned, six hits and zero walks. 

For the starter job in the Friday game the Royals will send out Daniel Lynch. In his seven starts this year Lynch is 2-3 with a 4.14 ERA and 28 Ks in 41.1 innings. Lynch is 10-22 with a 5.12 career ERA in 49 games. 

Cleveland Guardians 

Over on the Cleveland side, they lost two of three to the Braves in their last set. On Thursday the Guardians fell behind early but ended up scoring five over the final three frames. Tanner Bibee managed 5.0 innings in the start with one earned on four hits and four walks. 

It’ll be Aaron Civale in the start for the Guardians on Friday. Across his eight starts this year Civale is 2-2 with a 2.96 ERA and 35 Ks in 45.2 innings. Civale is 26-23 with a 3.95 ERA in 71 career starts. 

The Royals are 17-39 in their last 56 in game two of a series and 25-64 in their last 89 overall. KC is 15-43 in their last 58 road games. 

Meanwhile, the Guardians are 1-4 in their last five Friday games and 11-4 in their last 15 versus a lefty starter. Cleveland is 5-0 in their last five in game two of a series. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll take a stab on the Royals here. We should have a pretty fun starter matchup regardless. Lynch is 2-0 in his last three starts with just four earned in his last 18.0 frames combined. As for Civale, he’s got seven earned on 14 hits and six walks in his last 18.2 innings. On Thursday in the opener, KC had one bad inning on defense (four runs in the sixth) and couldn’t get much going at the plate after the first frame. I think the Royals have a decent shot at evening things up in game two, but I’m probably not touching it.