It’s a get-away-day 1:30 start for the Indians and Royals as they wrap up a 4 game set in Kansas City. Cleveland manager Terry Franconia sends RHP Triston McKenzie (0-1) to face the Royals and veteran LHP Danny Duffy (4-1) who is having a career year start to ‘21. While the Indians have been hot and the Royals cold, I like Kansas City in this one and I love Duffy’s chances at home. Take K.C. to win.
The Cleveland Indians have loved K.C. this year and not just for the delicious ribs. The Indians are 3-1 against the Royals in ‘21 and won the first two games of their current 4 game stop in the City of Fountains. Let’s break it down. Cleveland is one game out of first place (as of Wednesday) in the AL Central trailing the Royals who are in a first place tie with Chicago. Former world series winning Manager Terry Franconia has his team on a hot streak as the Indians have won 4 straight. Thursday Franconia sends out Triston McKenzie who has struggled on the road this season at 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA, batters are hitting .500 against McKenzie on the road. Overall, McKenzie is 0-1 in ‘21 in 4 starts and 5 appearances with a 6.27 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Let’s look at Franconia’s bullpen, since it is likely to come into play early in this one. The Indians bullpen has been great so far in ‘21 with the 2nd best bullpen ERA at 2.74. At the dish Cleveland is led by 3B Jose Ramirez with a .370 OBP, 28 hits and 8 HR. As a team the Indians don’t jump out at the plate, timely hitting and hits off the bench, like Tuesday pinch hitter Jake Bauers’ 2 run HR in their win against the Royals, have been key for Cleveland so far in ‘21. Turning to Kansas City, this has been a rough stretch for the Royals and 2nd season manager Mike Matheny. The Royals are 2-5 in their last 7 and after dropping the first two in the homestand will turn to veteran LHP Danny Duffy, who has been absolutely outstanding so far this season for Kansas City. If you are here for Indians vs Royals MLB betting odds look no further than these numbers; Duffy is 4-1 in 5 starts with a 0.60 ERA, which is 2nd in all of MLB to the Mets’ Jason Degrom. Duffy also sports an impressive 0.97 WHIP in ‘21 and at home this season Duffy is 1-1 with a 0.75 ERA. At the plate the Royals have relied on the MLB 8th highest BA at .241. K.C. catcher Salvador Perez has 30 hits and 7 HR which leads the team and former Indians 1B Carlos Santana leads the Royals with a .372 OBP and 21 hits, he has also swatted 6 HR. If you are here you’re looking for how to pick this one with NJ online sportsbooks so my pick is the Royals. They are at home and due a win vs Cleveland, they need to keep pace with the White Sox in the A.L. Central and most of all they have their 2021 staff ace Danny Duffy taking the hill against Cleveland. Get away day, take the Royals and get away with a win.
