Kansas City Royals (86-76) vs. New York Yankees (94-68)
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees October 5 2024 – As postseason fever approaches, the Kansas City Royals face off against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series (ALDS) on a cold October night. The Royals are the hard-hitting underdogs, while the high-flying Yankees have come off an impressive season thus this game at the hallowed Yankee Stadium will be explosive. For both the followers and the bettors, it is important to break things down when it comes to the MLB picks and odds because this may be the series that everyone will be discussing.
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees October 5 2024 Game Info
When: | Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 6:38 PM ET |
Where: | Yankee Stadium |
TV: | TBS, ESPN |
Stream: | MLB.TV |
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees Betting Odds
Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
Royals | +170 | +1.5 (-133) | 8 over (-114) |
Yankees | -204 | -1.5 (+108) | 8 under (-114) |
The betting lines underscore the Yankees as heavy favorites with a -204 on the moneyline, reflecting their stronger season record and playoff experience. The Royals, however, come in with a compelling +170, making them an enticing choice for those looking for a potentially profitable underdog bet.
Michael Wacha (13-8, 3.35 ERA) vs. Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA)
This season, Michael Wacha has been quite a reliable player for the Royals, posting a good 3.35 ER over 166.2 innings of play. So far this season, his walk and strikeout ratio of 145 Ks to 45 BBs bodes well for his success on the pitcher mound. This talent will help repel the barrage of homers while pitching in such a hitting-friendly ballpark – he has allowed just 17 home runs.
Conversely, Gerrit Cole provides the Yankees with his caliber of top-tier pitching skill. Even though it was a brief season with 95 innings pitched, his 3.41 earned run average and 1.13 Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched suggested he could do better. Gerrit Cole’s strikeout ability (99 Ks) is still intimidating but his somewhat elevated home run rate this season could be a weakness that the hard-hitting Royals may target.
With these two experienced pitchers going head-to-head, it will come down to who manages the game’s pace better and who can work around the opposition’s lineups. There’s a classic pitcher duel with Wacha’s penchant for ground balls and Cole’s penchant for striking batters out. One moment in the game can tilt either team in a pitcher dueling each other.
In-Depth Team Stats Analysis: Kansas City Royals
The Royals’ team batting average sits at .248, with a modest slugging percentage of .403, reflecting their reliance on contact hitting and base-running rather than power. Their 735 runs scored this season, though lower than the Yankees’, demonstrate their ability to manufacture runs effectively. The real test will be converting these opportunities against Cole, whose pitching style could disrupt their rhythm.
Power Surge: New York Yankees’ Offensive Might
Conversely, the Yankees match the Royals in batting average but exceed in power metrics, boasting 237 home runs and a slugging percentage of .429. Their lineup’s ability to draw walks (533 this season) also sets up more scoring chances, which could be pivotal in games expected to be decided by slim margins. The Yankees’ approach at the plate, which blends patience with power, will challenge Wacha’s precision and consistency.
Kansas City Royals Betting Trends
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas City’s last 5 games.
Kansas City are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games.
Kansas City are 5-15 SU in their last 20 games against NY Yankees.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Kansas City’s last 10 games on the road.
Kansas City are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees.
New York Yankees Betting Trends
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Yankees’ last 5 games.
NY Yankees are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of NY Yankees’ last 9 games against Kansas City.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Yankees’ last 6 games at home.
NY Yankees are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Kansas City.
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees Betting Previews
As for the pregame division regarding the variants of the pitching and outcomes of the competition between both teams, it looks like the Yankees might have a slight win with especially strong aspirations for Gerrit Cole’s strikeout and batting average team figure. You can bet on the Royals as the underdogs and hot recently, just be careful with the spread.
For the gamblers, it would be wise to look into strikeout prop bets and even play the under for the total runs since there is good value. You may place your bets on Authorized Betting Websites for security regarding the website and high odds.