Royals vs. Yankees MLB Odds, Picks, Predictions: Does Kansas City Have a Shot as Massive Underdog Against Gerrit Cole? (Friday, July 29)
Elsa/Getty Images. Pictured: Gerrit Cole
- The Yankees are huge home favorites tonight against the Royals.
- New York sends ace Gerrit Cole to the mound while Kansas City will counter with young lefty Kris Bubic.
- Continue reading for a full breakdown of this matchup, including a betting pick.
Royals vs. Yankees Odds
| Royals Odds | +320 |
| Yankees Odds | -405 |
| Over/Under | 8.5 |
| Time | 7:05 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
The Yankees have the best record in all of baseball and an 11.5 game lead in the American League East, but they didn't have such an easy time with the Royals Thursday as they squeaked out a 1-0 victory.
The Yankees had just one hit before an Aaron Judge's walk-off home run in the ninth inning proved to be the difference. It was just the fourth time in Yankees history that the team had won 1-0 on a walk-off home run and the first time since Ruben Sierra in 2004.
As heavy favorites tonight, will the Yankees have an easier time with the underdog Royals?
Royals Packing It In
The Royals' season hasn't gone their way as they sit in last place in the American League Central division with a 39-60 record.
The Royals had to admit the portion of the season where they try to contend is over recently as they sent outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the Yankees in a trade for a few prospects that should help the team in future years.
Those prospects aren't going to help them as they go up to the plate against Gerrit Cole Friday night. Cole has a 3.09 ERA this year and has already faced the Royals once as he threw six scoreless innings in Kansas City on April 30th.
The Royals are 21st in all of baseball averaging 4.13 runs per game on the road this year.
Without Benintendi because of the trade, catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who continues to sit out with a sore hamstring, the Royals are sending out a depleted lineup against one of the best pitchers in the American League.
Yankees Look to Thump Improving Bubic
While the Yankees have one of the best offenses in all of baseball and are second in all of baseball averaging 5.18 runs per game at home this year, New York's lineup is still without a major player in Giancarlo Stanton, who is on the injured list with Achilles tendonitis.
Kris Bubic will get the start for the Royals and while he has a 5.53 ERA and 5.19 xFIP this season, he's pitched better of late. In July he's made five starts already and has a 3.03 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 29 innings.
Bubic has even completed five innings in four straight starts and completed seven innings in each of his last two starts. The Royals' bullpen should be well rested after Brady Singer was able to complete seven innings last night.
New York's lineup has quite a bit of power against left-handed pitching as Judge, Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres each have ISOs above .200 against left-handed pitching. Josh Donaldson has a .196 ISO and D.J. LeMahieu has a .175 ISO against left-handed pitching this year.
Bubic has allowed just a .139 ISO to right-handed batters this year compared to a .283 ISO against left-handed batters.
Royals-Yankees Pick
The Yankees are one of the best teams in baseball. They have the best record and run differential and they have a 38-12 record at home.
However, Vegas has made them absolutely massive favorites in this game at nearly -400 and I can't resist the value on the Royals at +310. I would bet this down to +300.
While the Yankees have a bigger advantage in the pitching matchup than Thursday night, they still only won that game 1-0. At these long odds it's worth taking a shot on the Royals.
Pick: Royals ML +310
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