The 28-26 Cleveland Indians and the 24-30 Kansas City Royals close out their series in the final game of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri today. The first pitch of the finale is set to be thrown at 2:15 PM ET.
On the MLB odds boards the visiting Indians are a large favorite on the money line with Cleveland backers being asked to lay as high as -152. The total for this match is being offered at 9 runs.
In Game 2 of this series yesterday the Royals beat the Indians 12-5. In that game, the Royals scored 12 runs on 13 hits and the Indians scored five runs on nine hits. Cleveland had a 3-0 lead heading into the 5th inning, but gave up six runs in the frame and another five in the 7th inning.
This season the Indians rank 21st in the Majors in runs scored and 5th in team ERA.
The Royals rank 30th in the Majors in runs scored and 18th in team ERA.
Pitching Match Up
Cleveland: Trevor Bauer (5-4, 6.00 ERA)
Kansas City: Eric Skoglund (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Trevor Bauer goes for the Indians in this series finale and in his last start he gave up three earned runs in seven innings in a 9-4 win over the Oakland A’s. The Indians have won three of his last four starts and over that span he has gone 23 innings and given up 11 earned runs. In seven career starts against the Royals Bauer is 1-2 with an ERA of 3.56 and this will be his first start against them this season. While the Indians are 6-0 in Bauer’s last six starts after a Quality Start in his last outing they have lost his last four road starts against a team that has a losing record.
Eric Skoglund gets the nod for the Royals and his last start was his MLB debut and it was a great one going six innings and not giving up any earned runs and only allowing two hits in a 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. Before being called up the big club he had gone 2-3 with an ERA of 4.53 in eight starts in AAA ball.
Betting Angles
The Royals are 4-1 in their last 5 games against the Indians.
The Indians are 7-3 in their last10 games against the Royals in Kansas City.
In the last 14 games between these teams the Under record is 9-4-1.
In the last 7 games between these teams in Kansas City the Under record is 5-1-1.
This season the Royals are 15-13 at home and the Indians are 16-12 on the road.
Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records
Cleveland Indians: 28-26 SU / O/U 20-31 / Run Line W/L 19-35
Kansas City Royals: 24-30 SU / O/U 21-31 / Run Line W/L 25-29
Cleveland at Kansas City Key Betting Trends
- CLE is 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing record
- CLE is 6-13 in their last 19 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game
- CLE has an Under record of 24-9-4 in their last37 road games
- KC is 2-6 in their last 8 games following a win
- KC is 6-2 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning record
- KC has an Under record of 18-8 in their last 26 home games
Key Player Injuries
INDIANS
[P] 04/09/2017 – Cody Anderson 60-day DL (04/02) ( Elbow )
[RF] 05/26/2017 – Lonnie Chisenhall 7-day DL (05/23) ( Concussion )
[LF] 05/14/2017 – Brandon Guyer 10-day DL (05/13) ( Wrist )
[RF] 05/16/2017 – Abraham Almonte 10-day DL (05/16) ( Bicep )
ROYALS
[P] 05/29/2017 – Danny Duffy 10-day DL (05/29) ( Oblique )
[P] 05/28/2017 – Brian Flynn 60-day DL (02/15) ( Back )
[RF] 06/02/2017 – Paulo Orlando 60-day DL (06/01) ( Undisclosed )
[P] 05/28/2017 – Scott Alexander 10-day DL (05/08) ( Hamstring )
[P] 05/24/2017 – Nathan Karns 10-day DL (05/21) ( Arm )
