Thursday, September 17, 2015

Progressive Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Yordano Ventura (11-8) vs. Corey Kluber (8-13)

The Cleveland Indians host the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on Thursday. The Royals send Yordano Ventura to the mound to face Corey Kluber of the Indians. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at +141 and Cleveland at -151. The over/under was set at 7. The Royals, with a 78-66 run line record, cover the spread 54% of the time. They also have a 64-66 over/under record. The Indians have a 71-71 over/under record and a 69-74 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 48% of the time.

The Royals show up with a 85-59 record, including 37-32 on the road. Starting pitcher Yordano Ventura holds a 11-8 record with an earned run average of 4.42 and a WHIP of 1.34. He's pitched 138.1 innings thus far while surrendering 134 hits over that time and when he starts, the Royals are 13-11. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 10-10. He is getting 5.1 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has given up 369 hits on the season and have an earned run average of 2.73. Opposing teams are hitting .211 against the Royals bullpen while walking 160 times and striking out 437 times. Kansas City is averaging 7.11 strikeouts per game while getting 8.51 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 10th in baseball in team earned run average at 3.79.

As a team, Kansas City is batting .271, good for 2nd in the league while putting together a .260 average away from home. The Royals on-base percentage sits at .322, which puts them at 11th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .412. Eric Hosmer leads the team in hits with 160 while the team ranks 4th in baseball with 9.26 hits per game.

Cleveland is 32-36 at home while holding a 71-72 overall record on the season. With an earned run average of 3.41, Corey Kluber will come into this game holding a 8-13 record and a 1.03 WHIP. He's pitched 200.1 innings thus far while surrendering 169 hits over that time in which the Indians are 10-18. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 13-15. He is getting 3.4 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has given up 377 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 3.20. Opposing teams are hitting .244 against the Indians bullpen while walking 135 times and striking out 388 times. Cleveland is averaging 8.87 strikeouts per game while getting 8.13 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 11th in the league in team earned run average at 3.79.

As a team, they are batting .256, good for 10th in the league while putting together a .272 average at home. The Indians on-base percentage sits at .325, which puts them at 6th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .397. Michael Brantley leads the team in hits with 159 while the team ranks 12th in baseball with 8.64 hits a game.

In terms of team defense, the Royals have a fielding percentage of .986 with 76 total errors, 1,438 assists and 3,856 put outs. The Indians have committed 72 errors on the season with 1,366 assists and 3,821 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .986 on the year.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 64-66 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 78-66 against the run line so far this season

Cleveland Indians Betting Trends

The Cleveland Indians are 71-71 against the over/under so far this season

The Cleveland Indians are 69-74 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

Guy's Pick: Take the Indians

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