Last Updated on August 29, 2016 3:21 pm by Brad Burns
Streaking Royals await Yankees in Midwest
After throttling Boston last night, will the Royals dispose of another American League East foe in a matter of hours?
Ned Yost’s gang welcomes the Yankees to Kauffman Stadium this evening, with an 8:15 p.m. ET first pitch in the Show-Me State. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI actually prefer the visitors, whereas Kansas City represents a +118 underdog. The over/under run figure rests at 8.5.
The Royals enter the set having won 17 of 21 contests. They’re suddenly just three games behind Baltimore for the AL’s second wild-card spot. As an added bonus, 20 of the defending World Series champs’ final 32 tilts come at home.
Dillon Gee (5-7, 4.55 ERA) simply wants to keep the momentum going. Following a wretched stretch earlier in the summer, the veteran righty has been markedly better in August. Gee holds a 1-2 record with a 3.04 ERA in four career appearances against New York.
MLB Quick Links: Scores & Matchups | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Betting Trends | ATS Stats
The Bronx Bombers counter with Michael Pineda (6-10, 5.02), who gets to work on extra rest. Since June 7, the fourth-year hurler is 4-4 with 104 strikeouts in 88 1/3 frames. He’d do well to pay special attention to the hosts’ first baseman, considering Eric Hosmer boasts a .333 lifetime average off Pineda.
Something tells us these two squads are about to engage in a surprising pitching duel. Gee, for instance, limits opposing hitters to a .229 mark with runners in scoring position. Expect him to post a rock-solid outing here, giving the Royals a terrific chance of improving to 41-21 at the K.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: ROYALS +1.5