Yankees vs. Royals Friday Prediction
The New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals will open a new series this weekend starting on Friday at 8:15 p.m. ET. What’s the best play for bettors tonight?
Game Snapshot & Odds
923 New York Yankees (-180) at 924 Kansas City Royals (+157); 9.5 runs
Friday, May 18, 2018
8:15 p.m. ET, Kauffman Stadium
TV: NYY (WPIX); KC (FSKC)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Yankees as a -180 favorite. As of this writing, 72% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Yankees to beat the Royals on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Yankees’ Sabathia allows nine hits, four runs vs. Red Sox
CC Sabathia allowed nine hits and four runs over four innings in a no-decision Thursday against the Red Sox. Sabathia gave up a solo homer among his nine hits, never really falling apart despite clearly not being at the top of his game. The no-decision kept his record at 2-0, and even with the subpar outing Sabathia owns a 2.23 ERA and 1.02 WHIP through seven starts. An interleague start against the tough Nationals is up next when the teams meet Wednesday.
Royals’ Junis allows four runs in loss to Indians
Jake Junis surrendered four runs in 5 2/3 innings and took a loss to the Indians on Saturday. Francisco Lindor touched him up for a solo homer, and Michael Brantley twice delivered RBI knocks against him. Junis fanned seven batters, walked two and allowed six total hits. He falls to 4-3 with a nice 3.53 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He has 45 strikeouts and 11 walks in 51 innings and figures to be a quality mid-rotation fantasy pitcher all year long even though he pitches for a win-challenged Royals team.
MLB Betting Trends
New York
The Yankees are a perfect 5-0 in Sabathia’s last five road starts versus the Royals, are a near-perfect 7-1 in his last eight outings versus Kansas City overall, and are 4-1 in their last five road games in this matchup. They’re also 78-36 in their last 114 games versus the Royals overall.
Kansas City
The under is 5-0 in the Royals’ last five home games when Sabathia starts, is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these two teams overall, and is 5-1 in Sabathia’s last six starts against them overall.
Prediction:
As you can see from the betting trends above, the under has been a fantastic bet when these two teams meet and I expect tonight’s game to also be low-scoring. Junis owns a 4.04 ERA, has limited the walks this season (5.7%) and has done a decent job limiting damage on a whole. Sabathia, meanwhile, could see trouble ahead as his 3.41 ERA doesn’t match his 4.35 SIERA but he too has limited walks and hard contact while generating a ton of ground balls (49.0%). The Yankees are dangerous offensively but the Royals won’t contribute enough to push the score over the total, which feels inflated due to New York’s bats.
The Pick: Yankees/Royals under 9.5