Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Indians Odds Analysis - Free Pick Aug/25

The Green Man

Date: August 25, 7:10 pm

Location: Progressive Field

TV: WKYC

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Indians -124 / Royals +114

Total: 9.5un -120

The 64-62 Kansas City Royals head to Cleveland to take on the 70-56 Indians in the first game of a three-game set at Progressive Field tonight. The first pitch of the opener at Progressive Field is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET.

The lines maker at <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/sportsbooks/betonline">BetOnline</a&…; has listed the host Indians as a -124 favorites to win the opening game of their three-game set at Progressive Field against the Royals. The tota for this match is posted at 9.5 runs.

In their last game, the Royals lost to the Colorado Rockies 3-2. In the match, the Royals scored two runs on nine hits and the Rockies scored three runs on 11 hits.

In their latest, the Indians beat the Boston Red Sox 13-6. In the game, the Indians pounded out 18 hits scoring 13 runs while the Red Sox scored six runs on nine hits.

This season the Royals rank 21st in the Majors in runs scored and 14th in team ERA.
The Indians rank 10th in the Majors in runs scored and 3rd in team ERA.
<h2>Pitching Matchup</h2>
Kansas City: Jason Vargas (14-7, 3.59 ERA) 
Cleveland: Ryan Merritt (0-0, 3.12 ERA)
Jason Vargas takes the mound for the first game of this series and he was not very sharp in his last outing only going four innings and giving up four earned runs in a 5-0 loss to the Indians. The Royals have lost three of his last four starts and in that span he has given up 16 earned runs in 19 innings. Vargas had only given up two runs in 20 innings in three starts against the Indians this season before giving up four in his last start facing them. Vargas has an ERA of 7.15 in his last eight starts where he has given up 10 HR. However, Kansas City has won six of his last seven road starts and 11 of his last 15 starts overall.

Ryan Merritt (0-0 3.12 ERA) was recently recalled from the minors and this season he has two starts and one relief appearance. The Indians won his first start of the season, but in his last one he gave up two runs, one earned, in only three innings of work in a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Last season in his first start in the Majors he got the win over the Royals only allowing one run in five innings.

<h2>Betting Angles </h2>
The Indians are 14-6 in their last 20 games against the Royals. 
The Indians are 9-2 in their last 11 home games against the Royals. 
In the last 9 games between these teams in Cleveland the Under record is 6-2-1. 
This season the Indians are 33-29 at home and the Royals are 29-32 on the road. 
<h2>Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records </h2>
Kansas City Royals: 64-62 SU / O/U 59-61 / Run Line W/L 62-64 
Cleveland Indians: 70-56 SU / O/U 47-69 / Run Line W/L 56-70
<h2>Kansas City at Cleveland Key Betting Trends</h2>
<ul>
<li>KC is 4-1 in their last 5 road games</li>
<li>KC is 6-2 in their last 8 road games vs. a left-handed starter</li>
<li>KC has an Over record of 12-5-1 in their last 18 games</li>
<li>CLE is 10-4 in their last 14 overall</li>
<li>CLE is 15-6 in their last 21 home games</li>
<li>CLE has an Over record of 3-1-1 in their last 5 games</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Player Injuries </h3>
ROYALS 
[P] 06/26/2017 - Nathan Karns 60-day DL (05/21) ( Forearm ) 
[RF] 06/02/2017 - Paulo Orlando 60-day DL (06/01) ( Shin ) 
[P] 08/10/2017 - Trevor Cahill 10-day DL (08/10) ( Shoulder ) 
[P] 08/19/2017 - Neftali Feliz 10-day DL (08/19) ( Elbow ) 
[P] 08/18/2017 - Joakim Soria 10-day DL (08/16) ( Oblique )
INDIANS 
[RF] 07/14/2017 - Lonnie Chisenhall 10-day DL (07/11) ( Calf ) 
[P] 04/09/2017 - Cody Anderson 60-day DL (04/02) ( Elbow ) 
[RF] 08/18/2017 - Abraham Almonte 10-day DL (08/18) ( Hamstring ) 
[P] 08/22/2017 - Andrew Miller 10-day DL (08/22) ( Tendonitis ) 
[P] 08/22/2017 - Danny Salazar 10-day DL (08/21) ( Elbow ) 
[DH] 08/24/2017 - Carlos Santana "?" Friday vs. Kansas City Royals ( Back ) 
[2B] 08/23/2017 - Jason Kipnis 10-day DL (08/23) ( Hamstring ) 
[LF] 08/09/2017 - Michael Brantley 10-day DL (08/09) ( Ankle ) 
[P] 07/31/2017 - Josh Tomlin 10-day DL (07/31) ( Hamstring ) 
[P] 07/30/2017 - Boone Logan 60-day DL (07/20) ( Back )

Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Indians Prediction for August 25/2017

The Royals had won three in a row before losing to the Rockies in their last game. They had totaled 16 runs in winning the three games before only scoring two in their last one. Kansas City is in 3rd place in the AL Central six games back of the Indians and are only ½ game out of the 2nd Wild Card. The Indians had lost two in a row only scoring two runs before blowing up in their last game scoring 13 runs on the Red Sox an lighting up Ace Chris Sale. They are 5.5 games up on the Twins and six games up on the Royals in the division. Vargas has looked nothing like the All Star he was in the first half of the season. He has lost four of his last five starts where he did not last past the 5th inning in any of them. Merritt’s only career win came against the Royals last season and he will pitch well facing them again tonight. The Indians have had the Royals’ number at home and that will continue. With Merritt having a good outing and the Cleveland lineup getting to Vargas it equals an Indians win.

Free Pick: Take the Indians -124

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