Cleveland Guardians (50-51) vs Kansas City Royals (29-74)
2023-07-26 13:10:00 EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Cleveland Guardians -190 / Kansas City Royals +160 --- Over/Under: 10.5
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The Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Guardians meet in the finale of their three-game AL Central division set in MLB action from Progressive Field on Wednesday afternoon. The series is deadlocked at one win apiece, who ends up victorious in the rubber match? Let’s dive in and find out.
Royal Disaster
The Kansas City Royals were expected to be in a rebuild this season, but I don’t think anyone expected the play to be this bad as the Royals are in contention for the worst record in MLB history, currently sitting at 29-74 after a 5-1 loss to the Guardians in Tuesday’s matchup. In the month of July, KC ranks 20th in batting average (.240), 26th in team OPS (.680) and 21st in ISO (.157). Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with 103 hits, 51 RBIs along with a .253 batting average while Salvador Perez leads Kansas City in home runs with 17 this season. MJ Melendez also has a team-high 21 doubles but has the dubious distinction of leading KC with 113 strikeouts this season. Alec Marsh will get the start for Kansas City in this one and is 0-4 with a 6.20 ERA and 24 strikeouts this season.
Kansas City Royals Team Facts
– The Royals have lost each of their last 11 Wednesday day road games against American League opponents.
– The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 15 Wednesday day road games against AL Central opponents.
– The Royals have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last five day games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
– The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last four games as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
– The Royals have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three day games against American League opponents.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
– Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last seven appearances in day games.
– MJ Melendez has recorded a hit in each of his last six appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
– Bobby Witt Jr. has hit a home run in four of his last seven appearances in day games.
– Bobby Witt Jr. ranks T4th in the league in Steals (28) this season.
Guardians Still In The Mix In AL Central
The Cleveland Guardians have had their fair share of issues as well, but while they’ve had consistency issues at times this season, they’re at least in a better spot than the Royals who have consistently lost this season. The win on Tuesday pushed the Guardians to 50-51 this season, just 3 games back of the Twins in the AL Central division race and 6 games back in the AL Wild Card race. In the month of July, Cleveland ranks 5th in baseball in batting average (.271), 15th in team OPS (.738) and 26th in ISO (.144). Jose Ramirez leads the Guardians with 110 hits along with a .357 OBP, 14 home runs and 57 RBIs. Josh Naylor has a team-best 15 home runs and 76 RBIs with a .303 batting average to lead Cleveland in that department as well. Gavin Williams is expected to get the start for the Guardians here and is 1-2 with a 3.74 ERA and 26 strikeouts this season.
Cleveland Guardians Team Facts
– The Guardians have lost eight of their last nine day games after playing the previous day.
– The Guardians have covered the run line in each of their last seven Wednesday day games against the Royals.
– The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Guardians’ last five games as favourites.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
– Amed Rosario has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Guardians’ last four games as favourites.
– Josh Bell has recorded at least one hit in 14 of his 15 previous appearances against the Royals after playing the previous day.
– Steven Kwan has hit a home run in two of the Guardians’ last three day games.
– Andres Gimenez has recorded an RBI in four of his last five appearances in day games.
– Josh Naylor ranks 8th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.303) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
– The Cleveland Guardians ranks 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (699).
– The Cleveland Guardians ranks 30th in the league for home runs this season (76).
– The Kansas City Royals ranks 1st in the league for triples this season (25).
– The Kansas City Royals ranks 30th in the league for on-base percentage this season (.292).
Chris’ Pick
I don’t love this game and there are much better places to have your money on Wednesday’s card, but if forced to pick, I’d look at the Guardians here. Alec Marsh continues to struggle with the long ball, and while the Guardians actually have the fewest homers against righties this season, I think this is a spot where the offense can show up to play on Wednesday and close out the series with a win. If you’re the Guardians, with the way the AL Central looks to be tight the rest of the way, you can ill afford to lose out on opportunities like this to make up ground and have to avoid giving it up on the other side of the coin as well. Give me Cleveland here.
