Two struggling American League teams in the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees meet in the Bronx for the last of their four-game series later tonight. Read on for more about this game. You can also see our breakdown of Mets vs. Dodgers.
MLB World Series News and Previews
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- Chicago White Sox vs. Texas Rangers Betting Preview – August 17, 2017
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees Preview
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx
When: Thursday, May 12, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees– view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: MLB Network
Betting on the Kansas City Royals
The Royals’ starters are particularly bad this May with a 4.90 ERA, second worst in the MLB. That being said, bettors should take that stat with a grain of salt at least for tonight’s ball game with the Royals sending Ian Kennedy to the mound.
Kennedy’s been pitching well this season, keeping a 4-2 record and a 2.13 ERA to date. Two of those wins came this month, which includes a sterling performance in a 7-0 win over Cleveland on May 7. In that game, Kennedy gave up zero runs and just four hits while fanning six hitters. He’s allowed just one earned run over his last two starts which spanned 12.0 innings.
Kansas City hitters can’t just sit back and expect Kennedy do magic on the mound, though. The current Royals roster sports a .324 career batting average against Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi. Among them is Lorenzo Cain, who’s been swinging a hot bat over the last six games in which he’s hit .385 (10-for-26) with three homers and five RBIs.
Including Kennedy’s San Diego days, his teams have gone 6-2 in the nine-year veteran’s last eight starts.
Betting on the New York Yankees
The Yankees will turn to Nathan Eovaldi when they look to close out the series against the Royals with a win later tonight.
After getting torched with six runs and 10 hits in an 8-7 loss to Boston, Eovaldi recovered his mojo in his next start, allowing just two earned runs on six hits in an 8-2 win over the Red Sox on May 7. He is now 2-2 to with a 4.78 ERA and 1.25 WHIP this year.
Eovaldi has lasted at least seven innings in each of his last three starts but in case he gets pulled out early, the Yankees have a dependable bullpen to turn to. Speaking of which, the Yankees’ relievers group recently got a big boost in the form of Aroldis Chapman, who is back in action following a lengthy suspension.
As for the offense, the Yankees hope that their veterans continue to produce at the plate. Brian McCann, who’s gone 8-for-24 with a homer and seven RBIs in the last six games, must be excited to see Royals starter Kennedy again. After all, he is 5-for-16 (.313) with two home runs and three RBIs in his career against the right-hander.
The under is 7-3 in Eovaldi’s last 10 home starts.
Writer’s Prediction
Kansas City wins, 5-3.
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