Kansas City (64-63) at Cleveland (71-56)
When: Saturday, August 26th 2017
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Time: 7:15 ET | TV: FS1
Opening Odds: Cleveland -144/9.5
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The Cleveland Indians will look to pad their lead in the American League Central when they host the Kansas City Royals in the middle game of a weekend series on Saturday night. The Indians, who have several key players on the disabled list, maintained their 4.5-game lead over the Minnesota Twins and seven over Kansas City after last night’s 4-0 victory over the Royals. Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley, Lonnie Chisenhall and pitchers Josh Tomlin, Andrew Miller and Danny Salazar all have been out, but others have stepped up and given the Indians 11 wins over their last 15 games. Kansas City managed eight hits on Friday but left eight men on base and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position to drop 1.5 games behind Minnesota for the AL’s second wild-card spot. Eric Hosmer recorded two hits on Friday and is 9-for-19 during a five-game hitting streak while improving his average to .386 against the Indians this season. Mike Moustakas, who leads the Royals with 35 homers – including three against the Indians – is day-to-day with a sore knee after missing the opener. Cleveland slugger Jay Bruce was hitless in three at-bats Friday but has four homers and 15 RBIs in 16 games since being acquired from the New York Mets.
Pitchers: Royals – Jason Hammel (6-9, 4.73 ERA) | Indians – Mike Clevinger (6-5, 3.97)
Jason Hammel, who is 3-0 against the Tribe this season, has lost just once in his last eight outings and has posted four quality starts in that stretch. One of those was last Sunday against Cleveland, when he held them to three runs over six innings en route to victory. Hammel, who came into the season 0-3 against the Indians, has allowed just six walks and recorded 31 strikeouts in his last seven starts. Edwin Encarnacion is 8-for-27 with four homers versus Hammel.
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Mike Clevinger looks to bounce back from back-to-back rough outings when he makes his 20th appearance (17th start) on Saturday. He threw seven scoreless innings at Tampa Bay on August 12th, but allowed two runs in 2.2 innings of relief at Minnesota before giving up four runs in 4.1 innings against Boston on Monday. Clevinger has recorded 99 strikeouts in 88.1 overall innings but walked seven in as many innings over his last two outings. He beat Kansas City in his season debut on May 7th with 5.2 scoreless innings and is 2-0 lifetime against the Royals.
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Kansas City isn’t a team that will lay down. They’re still fighting for a playoff spot and Cleveland’s injuries are going to catch up to them. I expect the Royals to hit Clevinger tonight and come away with the victory.
Pick: Royals +140
BETTING TRENDS:
- Royals are 15-4 in their last 19 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Royals are 11-4 in their last 15 vs. American League Central.
- Royals are 21-43 in their last 64 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Royals are 3-7 in their last 10 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Royals are 2-5 in their last 7 Saturday games.
- Royals are 15-38 in their last 53 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Royals are 2-6 in their last 8 during game 2 of a series.
- Royals are 2-7 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Royals are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Royals are 4-1 in Hammel’s last 5 starts vs. American League Central.
- Royals are 8-17 in Hammel’s last 25 starts.
- Royals are 3-7 in Hammel’s last 10 road starts.
- Royals are 1-4 in Hammel’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Royals are 1-4 in Hammel’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Royals are 1-4 in Hammel’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Royals are 1-6 in Hammel’s last 7 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 10-2 in their last 12 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 13-3 in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 Saturday games.
- Indians are 11-4 in their last 15 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Indians are 11-4 in their last 15 vs. American League Central.
- Indians are 11-4 in their last 15 overall.
- Indians are 16-6 in their last 22 games following a win.
- Indians are 16-6 in their last 22 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Indians are 16-6 in their last 22 home games.
- Indians are 7-3 in their last 10 during game 2 of a series.
- Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Indians are 5-0 in Clevinger’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 4-0 in Clevinger’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 4-0 in Clevinger’s last 4 Saturday starts.
- Indians are 5-2 in Clevinger’s last 7 starts.
- Indians are 2-5 in Clevinger’s last 7 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Indians are 2-6 in Clevinger’s last 8 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 5-1 in Royals last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Royals last 6 Saturday games.
- Over is 8-3-1 in Royals last 12 games following a loss.
- Over is 11-5-1 in Royals last 17 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-1 in Hammel’s last 6 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Hammel’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Indians last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Indians last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 10-3-1 in Indians last 14 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 15-5-1 in Indians last 21 Saturday games.
- Under is 18-7-3 in Indians last 28 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 10-4-2 in Indians last 16 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-3-2 in Indians last 12 home games.
- Under is 32-14-6 in Indians last 52 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 29-13-3 in Indians last 45 vs. American League Central.
- Under is 11-5-2 in Indians last 18 overall.
- Under is 50-24-7 in Indians last 81 games following a win.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Clevinger’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-0 in Clevinger’s last 5 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Clevinger’s last 4 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-0 in Clevinger’s last 7 Saturday starts.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Clevinger’s last 10 home starts.
- Under is 16-5-1 in Clevinger’s last 22 starts overall.
- Under is 15-5-1 in Clevinger’s last 21 starts on grass.
- Under is 6-2 in Clevinger’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Clevinger’s last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 7-3 in Clevinger’s last 10 starts vs. American League Central.
- Under is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings in Cleveland.
- Royals are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings.
- Royals are 2-10 in the last 12 meetings in Cleveland.
