There will be playoff implications abound when the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals kick off a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium on Friday. The Tribe have historically gotten the better of their AL Central rivals, winning 12 of the past 17 meetings between the two clubs. The Indians currently hold a 5.5-game lead in the AL Central while the Royals sit a half-game out of a wild-card spot.
The Indians will send scorching-hot pitcher Corey Kluber to the bump in this one. Kluber has allowed five runs with 31 strikeouts and just three walks in 25.0 innings of work during the month of August. The former Cy Young Sportsbook has yet to face the Royals this season but posted a stellar 2.59 ERA in four outings against K.C. in 2016.
Struggling Ian Kennedy will oppose Kluber for the Royals. The right-hander has a 7.16 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP through his first three starts in August, allowing 13 runs in 16.1 innings. Kennedy has seen the Indians bats once already this season when he surrendered four runs in five innings against the Tribe back in May.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had installed the Kansas City Royals as 183 moneyline underdogs in this particular MLB betting odds matchup. The total, meanwhile, was set early at 8 before betting at Sportsbook started to move the line.
OddsShark prediction models pick the Indians to win this game 4.7-4.3. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Cleveland Indians vs Kansas City Royals Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Kansas City Royals sport a record of 61-59 heading into this matchup, while the Cleveland Indians sit at 66-53 on the season. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Kansas City vs Cleveland injuries news.
The Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Indians odds would favor the Indians if the betting lines were set according to our power ranks. Kansas City is rated No. 21 in the current OddsShark poll, while Cleveland is at No. 4.
Statistical Matchup
At the plate, Kansas City owns the No. 11 ranking for hits at 8.84 per game. By contrast, the Cleveland Indians are rated No. 14 in the same category at 8.74 per game.
Cleveland brings the No. 2-rated defense to this matchup, facing the Royals's No. 14-ranked defense.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Indians were saddled with a loss last time out in Ryan Merritt's start, as they lost 4-2 against Minnesota on Thursday at Target Field.
Kansas City got the job done in their last match in a 7-6 victory over Oakland on Wednesday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum behind starter D Duffy.
Next Betting Matchups
Cleveland at Kansas City, Saturday, August 19