The upstart Royals are in the Big Apple this evening to begin a three game set with the Yankees. The two once bitter rivals (for anyone who remembers 70's baseball) are scheduled to take the field for tonight's series opener at 7:05pm ET. MLB Odds have New York listed as a heavy -220 moneyline favorite; the game total is presently set at 9.5 with the Over being favored at -120 odds.
The Royals (18-16, second place in the AL Central) have been, arguably, the best home team in baseball thus far, going an
impressive 15-8 at Kauffman Stadium,; however, their performance on the road has been markedly different. Kansas City, prior to its recently completed 6-3 home stand, lost six straight away games to the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians.
The Royals are a miserable 3-8 at opposing venues this year thanks to a pitching staff that has yielded an average of six runs per game to hosting squads. That trend does not bode well for KC today as the Yankees are tied with Ned Yost's squad for the most runs scored in the American League at 170.
Kansas City's Kyle Davies, who will get the start this evening, will need to perform far better than he did in the majority of his first seven appearances for the Roayls to steal a win tonight. Davies is 1-4 on the season with a 7.32 ERA and 1.77 WHIP, but the former Brave is 3-0 in four career starts against New York, despite posting a lofty 5.85 ERA in those outings.
New York, which owns first place in the AL East with a 19-13 record, is coming off a 3-4 road swing that featured stops at Detroit and Texas. The Yankees have produced at 12-6 mark at home this season, and today's starter, the veteran righty Freddy Garcia, presided over one of those wins.
Garcia, who is making his sixth appearance for New York, is 1-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 25 innings of work this season. Garcia turned in his worst performance of the year in his last start, giving up 10 hits and four earned runs over seven innings in a 0-4 Yankees' loss at Detroit.
MLB Predictions Betting Trend: The Under is 2-8 in the Yankees last 10 games as a home favorite with a total between 9.5 and 10.
Royals vs Yankees Odds 2011 MLB Predictions:
Kansas City Royals +1.5 (-115), Over 9.5 (-120), +180 (Moneyline)
New York Yankees -1.5 (-105), Under 9.5 (+100), -220 (Moneyline)
