The Cleveland Guardians host the Kansas City Royals on September 8, 2025. First pitch from Progressive Field is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. EDT; the game will be broadcast on FDSKC.
Find my MLB betting preview and Royals vs Guardians prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
Our Royals vs Guardians Prediction
- Royals vs Guardians pick: Under 8 (-115)
Our Royals vs Guardians best bet is on the under total runs. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Royals vs Guardians Odds
| Royals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +170 | 8 -105o / -115u | -105 |
| Guardians Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -205 | 8 -105o / -115u | -115 |
Royals vs Guardians Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Ryan Bergert (KCR) | Stat | RHP Slade Cecconi (CLE) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | W-L5 | 5-6 |
| 0.8 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.3 |
| 2.61/4.04 | ERA /xERA | 4.78/5.71 |
| 4.07/4.58 | FIP / xFIP | 4.92/4.10 |
| 1.09 | WHIP | 1.30 |
| 12.8% | K-BB% | 14.3% |
| 29.2% | GB% | 40.1% |
| 90 | Stuff+ | 93 |
| 106 | Location+ | 103 |
Royals vs Guardians Prediction, Betting Analysis
The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians kick off their AL Central series today in a matchup that promises to be closer than the odds suggest. Cleveland is a -115 on the moneyline, while Kansas City sits at -105. The over/under is currently set at 8 total runs.
Both teams are neck-and-neck in the standings, with the Royals at 73-70 and the Guardians at 72-70, making this Game 1 particularly important for divisional positioning.
On the mound for Kansas City is rookie Ryan Bergert, whose 2.61 ERA leads all rookies with at least 10 starts this season. The Guardians counter with Slade Cecconi, a reliable arm who has kept Cleveland in contention all year.
From a totals perspective, this contest presents a prime opportunity for the Under. Using Evan Abrams’ Weather Watch Unders system, conditions tonight lean heavily toward suppressed scoring. The model highlights games with moderate to strong winds—especially in or across the field—paired with mild to cool temperatures.
These factors tend to stifle fly balls and limit run production. When totals open relatively high but tick down before first pitch, it often signals sharp money reacting to these environmental cues.
Pick: Under 8 (-115, Fanatics)
Royals vs Guardians Betting Trends
