Cleveland Guardians vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, 6/29/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cleveland Guardians vs Kansas City Royals

Date: Thursday, June 29, 2023

Location: Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO

TV: Bally Sports Kansas City

Odds/Point Spread: Cleveland (-165) Kansas City (+140)

The Cleveland Guardians (38-40) are en route to Kauffman Stadium on Thursday where they will go up against the Kansas City Royals (22-57). The line on this contest has Cleveland at -165 and Kansas City is priced at +140. The betting total comes in at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers are Shane Bieber and Zack Greinke.

The Guardians have accrued 141 two-baggers as a squad and have smacked 50 baseballs out of the park. Cleveland has a slugging rate of .370 and have been called out on strikes 558 times, while taking a walk on 234 occasions. As a team, the Cleveland Guardians are earning 3.9 runs per game, which is 27th in MLB. They have earned 281 RBI's and 650 base knocks over the course of the season, while their average at the plate sits at .246. They have a total of 304 runs scored and have an OBP of .311.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.50 and the pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.27. Guardians pitchers have given up 78 home runs and also 323 runs in total (7th in the league). Cleveland has conceded 645 base hits (8.3 per 9 innings) and 295 earned runs. The Guardians are sitting with a team ERA of 3.79 this season (7th in MLB), and they have struck out 608 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 243 batters and their FIP comes in at 4.10 as a unit on the campaign.

The Guardians have sent 251 relievers to the mound so far this year. The relief pitchers have inherited 86 base runners this season and 20.9% of those runners crossed home plate. They have accumulated 27 saves on the season and have blown 14 out of their 41 save chances. The Guardians relievers have a save percentage of 65.9% and has come into the game in 86 save situations. The relief pitchers have earned 44 holds on the campaign (11th in baseball). Guardians bullpen pitchers have come into the game with runners on 67 times as well as having 106 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Cleveland Guardians have notched a total of 2,103 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 723 assists and 39 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .986 which is 12th in professional baseball, and have accumulated 50 double plays. The Guardians have transformed 70.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of 6,309 innings, which ranks them 6th in MLB.

Bieber has taken the hill for 803 innings and has tallied 908 strikeouts during his MLB career. His earned run average is 3.24 (289 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.113. He has given up 714 hits (8.0 hits per nine innings) and has had 180 free passes. Bieber (59-31 career mark) holds a FIP of 3.14 while he has gone up against 3,253 opposing batters during his time in the major leagues.

The Royals have a team slugging % of .377 and they score 3.75 runs per contest (29th in the league). They have 124 doubles, while walking 211 times and notching 296 runs. Kansas City has accumulated 73 home runs so far this year as well as 281 runs batted in. They have struck out on 713 occasions (9th in the league) and are sitting with 613 base hits. The Kansas City Royals have an OBP of .296 and a team batting average of .232 on the year.

The Kansas City pitching staff have surrendered 419 runs this year while having a team ERA of 5.17 (395 earned runs surrendered). They have conceded 91 dingers and they give up 5.49 runs per 9 innings (28th in baseball). The Royals hold a team WHIP of 1.413 in addition to having a FIP of 4.46 as a team on the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.40 (642 strikeouts against 283 walks). They are sitting at 23rd in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 688.

Kansas City relievers hold an inherited score rate of 41.9% out of their 86 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 66 times in high leverage situations and also on 52 occasions with runners on base. With 46 save situations, the Royals have 23 holds in addition to 12 blown saves. They are ranked 29th in the league holding a save percentage of 47.8%, and they have sent 259 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond this season. Kansas City has had bullpen pitchers take the mound in 23 save opportunities and they have earned 11 saves.

In their 6,186 innings on the diamond, the Royals have earned a defensive efficiency of 68.0% (25th in MLB). The Kansas City Royals have turned 62 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .986 (16th in professional baseball). The Royals have accrued 663 assists, 40 errors and have accounted for 2,062 putouts for the year.

So far in his pro baseball career, Greinke has allowed 3,138 base knocks while earning 2,943 strikeouts in 3,328 frames. Greinke (224-149 record in his career) holds a 3.47 earned run average and has conceded 8.5 hits per 9 innings. He has conceded 1,283 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.168 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.5. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.92 and he has gone up against 13,622 opposing hitters during his MLB career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Cleveland (-165)

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