Monday, September 14, 2015

Progressive Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Edinson Volquez (13-7) vs. Carlos Carrasco (12-10)

The Kansas City Royals take on the Cleveland Indians on Monday at Progressive Field. The probable starters are Edinson Volquez for the Royals and Carlos Carrasco for the Indians. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at +119 and Cleveland at -129. The over/under was set at 8. The Royals, with a 77-64 run line record, cover the spread 55% of the time. They also have a 62-65 over/under record. The Indians are 67-72 against the run line and have a 68-70 over/under record. They cover the spread 48% of the time.

The Royals come into this game with a 84-57 record, and they are 36-30 away from home. Edinson Volquez has a 13-7 record on the season, an earned run average of 3.49 and a 1.27 WHIP. He's pitched 175.1 innings thus far while surrendering 163 hits over that time and when he starts, the Royals are 21-8. The Royals are also 13-13 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 5.3 runs when he starts. The bullpen has given up 362 hits on the season and have an earned run average of 2.70. The bullpen has struck out 428 and walked 154 batters this season while opposing teams hit .211 against them. Kansas City has a team average of 8.47 hits allowed per game and are averaging 7.13 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.76, they are 9th in the league.

Kansas City is batting .272 as a team, which is good for 1st in the league and hitting .262 away from home. The Royals on-base percentage sits at .324, which puts them at 10th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .413. With 159 hits, Eric Hosmer leads the team while his team ranks 3rd in hits per game with 9.3.

With a 69-70 overall record, Cleveland will come into this game 30-34 at home. Carlos Carrasco has a record of 12-10 while sporting an earned run average of 3.70 on the year with a 1.08 WHIP. He's pitched 160.2 innings thus far while surrendering 139 hits over that time in which the Indians are 14-12. The Indians are also 13-13 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 5.1 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen has given up 362 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 3.18. The Indians bullpen has struck out 377 batters and walked 128 this season while opposing teams have hit .242 against them. Cleveland has a team average of 8.09 hits per game and are averaging 8.88 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.79, they are 11th in the league.

They are batting .255 as a team, which is good for 10th in the league and hitting .272 at home. The Indians on-base percentage sits at .324, which puts them at 8th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .397. With 156 hits, Michael Brantley leads the team while his team ranks 12th in hits per game with 8.64.

In terms of team defense, the Royals have a fielding percentage of .986 with 75 total errors, 1,410 assists and 3,781 put outs. Over the course of this season, the Indians have accumulated 72 errors while having 1,322 assists and 3,713 put outs leading to a .986 fielding percentage.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 62-65 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 77-64 against the run line so far this season

Cleveland Indians Betting Trends

The Cleveland Indians are 68-70 against the over/under so far this season

The Cleveland Indians are 67-72 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

07/22/15 P Jason Vargas Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/22); out for season
05/17/15 P Brian Flynn Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/16)
04/06/15 P Tim Collins Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/6)

Cleveland Indians

09/06/15 P T.J. House Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list
09/04/15 P Corey Kluber Hamstring out indefinitely
07/08/15 P Nick Hagadone Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/7), out for season

Josh's Pick: Take the Indians

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