Kansas City Royals vs
Cleveland GuardiansPredictions & Preview

Guardians aim for sweep as they hold 2-0 series lead against Royals, starting pitchers announced

The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians will finish their three-game series on Sunday afternoon, with the Guardians holding a 2-0 series lead. Starting pitchers will be Cole Ragans for the Royals and Ben Lively for the Guardians. The Royals are the favorites, with the current line at -128. First pitch is at 1:40 EST from Progressive Field.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Royals -128 | Guardians +110
• Spread: Royals -1.5 (+137) | Guardians +1.5 (-160)
• Total: Over/Under 7.25 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Kansas City will win straight-up is 56%.

Kansas City vs Cleveland Stats

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals have been playing .500 baseball as they entered Saturday's game, having lost two of their last three. They split their last two games with the Twins before losing to the Guardians on Friday. With a 7-7 record on the year, they will need to improve their performance against divisional opponents, as Cleveland has won three of the first four games against Kansas City this season. In Friday's game, the Royals had five hits but failed to generate any runs in a 7-0 loss. Bobby Witt Jr., who had two hits in the game, is batting .308 with a home run and six RBIs this season as their shortstop. Maikel Garcia, the third baseman, has 12 hits, two home runs, and six RBIs on the year. Vinnie Pasquantino, the first baseman, leads the team with 10 RBIs but is batting .167. Cole Ragans, a left-handed pitcher, will make his fourth start of the season with a 2.81 ERA. The Royals are ranked 22nd in offense, 4th in defense, and have a power ranking of 19 with a 7-7 record this season.

Cleveland Guardians Analysis

The Cleveland Guardians are currently on a hot streak, winning their last four games including a series sweep of the White Sox. They are currently second in the AL Central with a 7-6 record, trailing the Tigers. Gabriel Arias had a key three run home run in their recent win against the Royals, showcasing his offensive skills. Steven Kwan is leading the team in batting average with .340 and Jose Ramirez leads in home runs with four. Ben Lively will be making his fourth start of the season, looking to secure his first win. Despite their recent success, the Guardians are ranked 23rd in power ranking, with an offense ranked 19th and defense ranked 17th. Their upcoming game against the Royals will be crucial as they look to continue their momentum.

Ragans shines as Royals expected to outperform struggling Lively in divisional matchup

The starting pitchers previously faced off in a game this season, showcasing similar performances. Both Lively and Ragans pitched five innings, allowed three earned runs, and struck out three batters. Following that game, Ragans has shown improvement in his pitching, while Lively continued to struggle, particularly against the Padres. Lively gave up three runs to the Royals and four runs to the Padres in subsequent games. Conversely, Ragans only allowed one earned run in each of his recent starts against the Brewers and Twins, showing positive development. The Royals are expected to perform better in this divisional matchup, with key players such as Witt, Garcia, and Pasquantino healthy. Given Ragans' recent form and the Royals' overall strength, it is advisable to choose the Royals as the likely winners of this game.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]