The Kansas City Royals (75-58) travel to face off against the Cleveland Guardians (75-58) on Wednesday, August 28th. This game will be played at Progressive Field in Cleveland and televised on BSGL. The Royals are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Guardians are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Royals. First pitch is set for 12:10 CT.
Royals vs. Guardians Betting Prediction
- Money Line Prediction: Guardians (-141)
- Over/Under Prediction: Over 8 Runs
- Guardians have won 5 out of their last 7 home games.
- Guardians have scored an average of 5.6 runs per game in their last 5 home games.
- Guardians have a higher league rank (3rd) compared to the Royals (4th).
- Guardians have a better home record (40-24) compared to the Royals’ away record (34-30).
- Guardians have won 3 out of their last 4 head-to-head games against the Royals.
Royals vs Guardians
Thanks to a three-run 7th inning for the Royals’ offense, they cruised to a 6-1 win over the Guardians in the most recent game of this series. Heading into the game, the Royals were at +138 on the money line.
The starting pitching matchup for this game featured Michael Lorenzen for the Royals, and he went just 1 2/3 innings while giving up one hit and no earned runs. James McArthur got the win out of the bullpen for the Royals. Gavin Williams only went five innings for the Guardians, giving up two earned runs on three hits.
Kansas City got a huge performance from Paul DeJong, as he went 1/2 with a home run and two RBIs. Salvador Perez also had a two-hit game for the Royals’ offense.
As the underdog, the Royals have won three straight games, and their overall record is 75-58, putting them 2.5 games behind the Guardians in the AL Central. Kansas City has a 29-13 record in divisional games this season and are 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Against the run line, the Royals are 36-28 on the road and 75-58 overall. The over/under line of 8 runs for today’s game is lower than their season average of 9.0 runs per game. When the O/U line is set at 8 runs, the Royals have a 12-11-2 record.
Michael Wacha Gets The Start For The Royals
Michael Wacha gets the start for the Royals today as he faces off against the Guardians on the road. He has made 23 starts this season and has a record of 11-6 to go along with an ERA of 3.32. Wacha has been pitching well recently, as he has picked up the win in each of his last three outings. In his most recent start, he went six innings and gave up two earned runs on six hits. Looking back over his last three starts, he has given up a total of three home runs. Wacha has a total of 13 quality starts this season and is averaging 7.65 strikeouts per nine innings.
Royals Offense Breakdown
Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. have been a dynamic duo for the Royals this season, as Perez is hitting .284 with 25 homers, and Witt Jr. is batting .346 with 27 homers. Witt Jr. also comes into the game on a four-game hitting streak. Vinnie Pasquantino has also been a big power threat for the Royals, as he has 18 homers and is batting .259.
As a team, the Royals are 8th in the league in scoring at 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. Overall, they are the 5th best hitting team in the league, with a team batting average of .258.
As the favorite, Cleveland has a 52-29 record this season, but they have struggled as the underdog, going 23-29. Overall, the Guardians are tied with the Royals for the AL Central lead, with a 75-58 record. This includes a 21-20 record in divisional games.
Against the run line, Cleveland is 65-68, and their games have averaged 8.5 runs per game. The over/under record for games with an 8-run total line is 12-13-5.
Tanner Bibee Gets The Start For The Guardians
Cleveland is starting right-hander Tanner Bibee today vs. the Royals. He has made 25 starts this year and has a record of 10-6 with a 3.46 ERA. Bibee’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.10. In his 25 starts, he has turned in eight quality starts and is averaging 9.78 strikeouts per nine innings. Bibee has been much better on the road this year, coming in with a 6-3 record and 2.89 ERA. At home, his record is 4-3, and his ERA is 4.63. The last time he pitched, Bibee gave up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work and took the loss.
Guardians Offense Breakdown
For the season, the Guardians are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 13th in the league. They have been a better offensive team at home, averaging 4.9 runs per game (7th), compared to 4.2 runs per game on the road. As a team, they are batting just .236 and have the league’s worst BABIP. However, they have done a good job of limiting strikeouts and are 4th in the league in walks.
José Ramírez has been one of the league’s top power hitters this season, as his 33 home runs are the 5th most in the league. He is also 2nd in the MLB with 104 RBIs. Over his last five games, Jhonkensy Noel has gone 4/17 with two homers and six runs scored.
Royals vs Guardians Prediction
Our prediction for this one is that the Cleveland Guardians will pick up a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals. With the Guardians winning, we would recommend taking them on the money line, where the payout is currently at -141.
Looking at the starting pitchers, Tanner Bibee is projected to pick up six strikeouts, which is the eighth best among today’s starters. As for Michael Wacha, his projected strikeout total is just four, which is the second lowest.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:August 28, 2024 Guardians, Royals