Kansas City Royals vs
Cleveland GuardiansPredictions & Preview

Guardians favored to extend winning streak against Royals in anticipated AL Central matchup

In this anticipated matchup between the top two teams in the AL Central, the Royals and Guardians face off in Cleveland on Friday night. The Royals are aiming to make a return to the playoffs after missing out for a decade, while the Guardians are defending their AL Central Division title. The pitching duel will feature Kris Bubic for the Royals and Tanner Bibee for the Guardians. Bubic boasts an impressive 0.71 ERA, while Bibee has struggled with a 6.52 ERA. The first pitch is set for 6:10 PM EST, with Cleveland opening as the betting favorite at -132. Stay tuned for our top betting picks to make the most of this exciting matchup.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Royals +120 | Guardians -132
• Spread: Royals +1.5 (-205) | Guardians -1.5 (+168)
• Total: Over/Under 7 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Cleveland will win straight-up is 57%.

Kansas City vs Cleveland Stats

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are gearing up for a weekend series in Cleveland against the Guardians, a matchup between last year's top two AL Central teams. After a recent series against the Twins, the Royals are looking to bounce back and secure their first division title since 2015. Lefty Kris Bubic will take the mound in game one, with impressive stats this season after returning from Tommy John surgery. Despite key injuries to certain players, the Royals are ranked 19 in power rankings, 18 in offense, and 6 in defense, with a current record of 6-6.

Cleveland Guardians Analysis

The Cleveland Guardians have a history of success in the AL Central Division, winning the title 12 times overall, including in two of the last three years. Despite a slow start to this season, the Guardians recently swept the Chicago White Sox and are looking to continue their winning streak against the Kansas City Royals. Tonight, right-handed pitcher Tanner Bibee will take the mound for the Guardians, hoping to improve his season record of 1-1 with a 6.52 ERA. The team is facing some challenges with key injuries to SS Yordys Valdes, RP Jack Leftwich, and SP Slade Cecconi, but they are putting in the effort to overcome these setbacks. In terms of power rankings, the Guardians are currently ranked 23rd with the offense at #22 and defense at #26, with an overall record of 5-6. Despite recent successes, the Kansas City Royals have shown strength in their recent matchups against Cleveland, winning two out of their last three games.

Guardians Favored to Continue Winning Streak Against Royals on Friday Night

Bubic has performed exceptionally in his initial two starts this season; however, the Guardians are favored to extend their winning streak to four games on Friday night. Bibee has established himself as a reliable pitcher in high-stakes games for the Guardians during his brief tenure. Despite a challenging performance against the Angels in his last outing, it is anticipated that Bibee will deliver a stronger performance at home. The Guardians possess a superior bullpen, which will be pivotal in a closely contested match. Furthermore, Cleveland emerged victorious in two out of three games against the Royals in Kansas City back in March. It is recommended to back the Guardians with the money line in this matchup.

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