In midweek baseball, the Cleveland Guardians face the Kansas City Royals in a match played on Wednesday night at the Kauffman Stadium. Diving into the particulars with our expert premium picks, we see a meeting of the land with two inconsistently performing teams. Looking to strengthen their chances of making the playoffs, the Guardians enter this match riding on good form. On the other hand, the Royals seek to break out of their recent slide and get back into the wildcard hunt. This game is one of the defining battles in the American League.
Guardians vs. Royals 9/4/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 7:40 PM ET |
| Where: | Kauffman Stadium |
| Watch: | FS1, BSKC, ESPN |
| Guardians odds: | +113 ML |
| Royals odds: | -133 ML |
| Total Line: | 8.5 |
Guardians (80-59) vs. Royals (75-65)
The Cleveland Guardians have shown guts and smart strategies in both of these last matches. During the last five, they could celebrate four wins, two of which were earned against these very Royals, thus ready for the postseason. The triumphs against Kansas City and Pirates underline not only the team’s offensive potential but also that of winning under pressure.
| Guardians Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 3, 2024 | KC | 7-1 | Win |
| Sep 2, 2024 | KC | 4-2 | Win |
| Sep 1, 2024 | PIT | 6-1 | Win |
| Aug 31, 2024 | PIT | 0-3 | Lose |
| Aug 30, 2024 | PIT | 10-8 | Win |
On the contrary, the Royals are undergoing a rough patch as they have lost all of their last five games, two of which were against the Guardians, and this could be a dent in their moral. These results illustrate a season that has suffered from disparities, especially in matches that look easy and could have improved their chances of qualifying for the playoffs. Now more than ever, losses to the Astros have shown their weaknesses when they play with the best teams.
| Royals Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 3, 2024 | CLE | 1-7 | Lose |
| Sep 2, 2024 | CLE | 2-4 | Lose |
| Sep 1, 2024 | HOU | 2-7 | Lose |
| Aug 31, 2024 | HOU | 2-5 | Lose |
| Aug 30, 2024 | HOU | 2-3 | Lose |
Ben Lively (11-8, 3.92 ERA) vs. Seth Lugo (14-8, 3.12 ERA)
Ben Lively of the Guardians holds a record of 11-8 and an ERA of 3.92 heading into this match. This season for Lively started off with very good outings and finished with quite a few bad ones if his innings pitched of 131 and walks of 42 are anything to go by. While he can fan batters due to his varied arsenal of pitches, giving up too many home runs can prove to be detrimental against the bats of the Kansas City Royals.
On the other hand, Royals loyal fans can remember how Seth Lugo became the bright spot. Now, it is worth looking further as his stats show the current season standing at 14-8 with 3.12 in ERA. On 179 innings pitched, he held 44 walks and 15 home runs while striking out batters. As such, the target men owe him entirely pitching at the same level as usual or in 110% mode, which is quite evident.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Royals -1.5 (+154), Total Odds: 8.5
Examining the betting landscape, the Royals enter as slight favorites in the spread, likely influenced by Lugo’s form despite the team’s recent struggles. The total is set at 8.5, reflecting expectations of moderate scoring influenced by both pitchers’ ability to control the game’s tempo.
Guardians Betting Trends
Cleveland’s recent success in games, especially their 5-1 streak in the last six, demonstrates their capacity to perform under pressure. However, their history of struggles at Kauffman Stadium, winning only 3 out of the last 10, might give bettors pause.
Royals Betting Trends
Kansas City’s current 0-7 slide is a significant concern, indicating potential value in betting against them, especially given their poor performance in recent home games. Their record of 7-3 in the last 10 at home against Cleveland suggests potential for a turnaround.
Guardians vs. Royals 9/4/24 Betting Picks
Based on the analysis and trends Lib heroes might win the match though most likely driven by Lugo’s better pitching and their desire to end the losing streak. That said, placing a bet on the Guardians to cover the spread would be a better option now based on how they have been playing recently, quite unlike the Royals.
With betting on the Royals to win the match due to Lugo and Ramirez controlling the tempo of the game until the very last moments of the game, it may end with a scoreline of 4-3 in favor of the Royals. This match may very well go under the total because of the rhythm both of these pitchers are likely to set. Patriots and total under seem to be the best combination in case of participating in MLB free parlay predictions.