The Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Guardians meet Tuesday in MLB action from Progressive Field. Here’s a Cleveland Guardians vs Kansas City Royals prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Kansas City Royals Betting Preview
The Royals took on the San Diego Padres in their last series. Kansas City took losses in the first two installments of that set 11-8 and 7-3, but managed to stave off the sweep with a 4-3 win in the finale on Sunday. In that matchup, the Royals got two RBI from Nelson Velazquez. Cole Ragans went 6.0 innings in the start with one earned on five hits and two walks.
For the starter gig in the Tuesday game the Royals will send out Seth Lugo. This year Lugo is 9-1 with a 1.72 ERA and 66 Ks in 78.1 innings. Lugo is 49-32 with a 3.30 ERA in 313 games (76 starts) over his career.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
Over on the Guardians’ side, they took on the Washington Nationals over the weekend. Cleveland managed wins in the first two installments of that set 7-1 and 3-2. The Guardians weren’t able to pull off the sweep though, losing 5-2 in the finale. Starter Carlos Carrasco gave up five earned on seven hits and a walk in 4.0 innings in that one.
On Tuesday the starter for the Guardians will be Triston McKenzie. This year McKenzie is 2-3 with a 3.77 ERA and 54 Ks in 57.1 innings over 11 starts. McKenzie is 20-27 with a 3.75 ERA in 79 career games (75 starts).
Royals vs Guardians Injury Notes
Royals SP Michael Wacha (foot) will be able to rejoin the active roster in three to four weeks if all goes well.
Guardians RP Eli Morgan (elbow inflammation) was placed on the 15-day Injured List Sunday.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Guardians’ last five games as favorites against AL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Six of the Royals’ last eight games as underdogs against AL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
- Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Guardians’ last four night games against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Andres Gimenez has recorded at least one Single in 10 of his last 11 home appearances after not playing the previous day.
- Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Guardians’ last 12 night games.
- Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one total base in each of the Guardians’ last 12 night games.
- Josh Naylor has scored at least one run in each of the Guardians’ last seven games as favorites against AL Central opponents.
- Jose Ramirez has hit a home run in three of the Guardians’ last four night games against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Will Brennan has recorded a Double in each of his last three appearances against the Royals after not playing the previous day.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one Single in each of the Royals’ last seven games as underdogs.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Royals’ last eight games as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one total base in each of the Royals’ last 10 games as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has scored a run in seven of the Royals’ last eight night games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one hit in each of the Royals’ last 10 games as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
- Kyle Isbel has hit a home run in each of the Royals’ last two games at Progressive Field against opponents that held a winning record.
- Salvador Perez has recorded a Double in each of the Royals’ last three night games against opponents that held a winning record.
Cleveland Guardians vs Kansas City Royals Prediction
I’ll stick with the Royals. Lugo is pitching well right now and should be able to post a solid start here. Over his last three outings combined, Lugo is 3-0 with just four earned runs on 16 hits and six walks in 18.2 innings total. As for McKenzie, he’s given up eight earned runs on 13 hits and 10 walks over his last three starts in 16.2 innings. McKenzie doesn’t have a decision in that time.
The Royals scored pretty well in the Padres series over the weekend (15 runs in three games) but also gave up a lot on the other side (21 runs). Kansas City should be in a pretty good spot Tuesday as long as the bullpen holds up, though.