Cleveland Guardians at Kansas City Royals odds, picks and predictions
The Royals have traded wins and losses over the last 10 with a 5-5 mark. They have been surprisingly good in tight games with a 9-8 record in 1-run games. So you have to get on them early and keep them down.
RHP Zach Plesac vs. RHP Zack Greinke
Plesac (2-6, 3.80 ERA) makes his 16th start. He has a 1.23 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 6.3 K/9 in 85 1/3 IP.
He allowed 1 ER on 5 hits and a walk with 1 K in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision in the 3-1 Opening Day win against Cleveland.
Has been awesome his last 4 starts with a 1.50 ERA, though he’s 0-2 during the stretch.
In 2 starts against KC this year, he has allowed 1 ER with 8 K in 11 2/3 IP.
He’s 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA and 1.20 WHIP on the road vs. 1-2 with a 2.85 ERA and 1.27 WHIP at home.
Greinke (2-5, 4.85 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.31 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 4.5 K/9 in 68 2/3 IP.
RHP Zach Plesac vs. RHP Zack Greinke
He’s 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 1.04 WHIP at home vs. 0-4 with a 7.46 ERA and 1.57 WHIP on the road.
I don’t know if Greinke wants to be traded, but he’s on a 1-year, $13 million deal, and KC is going nowhere. Odds are he goes and his audition for other teams starts Sunday. He got knocked around by his former team in Houston last time out for 6 ER on 10 hits in 5 IP, but he allowed just 1 ER in each of his previous 2 starts. That was a wakeup call. Greinke deals, and KC wins a tight one at home.
Greinke (2-5, 4.85 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.31 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 4.5 K/9 in 68 2/3 IP.
He allowed 1 ER on 5 hits and a walk with 1 K in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision in the 3-1 Opening Day win against Cleveland.
He’s 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 1.04 WHIP at home vs. 0-4 with a 7.46 ERA and 1.57 WHIP on the road.
Guardians at Royals odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:19 a.m. ET.
Money line (ML): Guardians -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Royals +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Guardians -1.5 (+125) | Royals +1.5 (-155)
Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -122 | U: -102)