Written By: The Persian
The Cleveland Guardians are set for a critical series against the suddenly slumping Kansas City Royals when they clash for the first of a three-game set Monday afternoon inside Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. They toss out the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. Bookmaker has installed the Royals -111 on the ML.
The Guardians have played some great baseball this season. After a rough three-game losing streak, they have ripped off three wins in their last four games.
They currently sit just 3 1/2 atop the AL Central standings, with the Minnesota Twins and the Royals chasing them. This is a huge test for the Guardians, who can create some breathing room if they win the series or even earn a three-game sweep.
That would put a ton of pressure on the Royals. Cleveland will have to score some runs in this series and look for the heart of the lineup to try to take advantage of Kansas City's pitching.
The Guardians have slugged an impressive 154 home runs this season and are hitting .238 as a team. Third baseman Jose Ramirez has had a huge season, smacking a team-high 34 home runs and driving over 100 runs while batting .275.
They will send out 25-year-old Gavin Williams, who holds a record of 2-7 and needs to get into a groove early. He has to get an early lead so he can settle down.
The Royals have really impressed this season because they have shown a tremendous amount of resolve and fight. They were not expected to be this good, let alone be in contention to win the AL Central, but they have found a way to stay within shouting distance, and this could be the series they really make Cleveland panic.
However, they entered this series after dropping five games in a row after winning three straight and five of seven.
The Royals were +600 to win the division before the season started.
On offense, they are led by shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who has hit a team-high 30 home runs, which also ties his career-high from last season. He is also batting a monster .340 on the season and leads all hitters in the American League in batting average.
The Royals will hand the ball over to veteran Michael Wacha, who has a record of 11-6 and an ERA of 3.50. He has fanned 120 in just under 140 innings of work and is on a hot streak, winning three out of his last four starts.
The Royals are 1-4 in their last five games and 2-3 in their last five games against the spread too. They are 36-32 in their road games against the spread, and the totals have gone over in two out of their last five games and 36 out of their last 69 games at home.
The Guardians are 2-3 in their last five games and 2-3 in their last five games against the spread. They are also 33-36 in their road games against the number too.
