Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Prediction, Preview and Odds - 10/05/2024

Game Time: 6:38 pm ET, Saturday, October 5, 2024

Venue:  Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Where to Watch:  MAX

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Royals +170, Yankees -205; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Royals +170, Yankees -205; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Royals +165, Yankees -200; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Kansas City Royals:  86-76 (2nd place, AL Central)

New York Yankees:  94-68 (1st place, AL East)

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Kansas City Royals:  6-4 last 10

New York Yankees:  5-5 last 10

The Royals are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep 2-0 in their best 2 out of 3 game series against the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card Round. They finished the regular season with an 86-76 record overall and had a road record of 41-40. This is the series opener of a best 3 out of 5 game series with the Yankees on Saturday for the American League Division Series. Their offense ranks 14th in the MLB with a .709 OPS. Seth Lugo was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Michael Wacha is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA this season. His team won 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB start, he allowed 3 ER, 1 HR, and 1 BB with 2 Ks on 5 hits through 5 IP against the Washington Nationals.

The Yankees are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 in their final series of the regular season. They finished the regular season with a 94-68 record overall and had a home record of 44-37. This is the 1st game of a best 3 out of 5 game series with the Royals on Saturday for the ALDS. Their offense ranks 3rd in the MLB with a .762 OPS. Clarke Schmidt was their starting pitcher on Sunday while Gerrit Cole is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB start, he allowed 0 earned runs, 0 homers, and 1 BB with 5 strikeouts on 2 hits through 6.2 innings played against the Baltimore Orioles.

The current betting odds have the Yankees listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Yankees finished the regular season with a 94-68 record overall which won them the AL East, and they were also 44-37 in their home games this season. Meanwhile, the Royals finished the regular season with an 86-76 record overall which got them into the playoffs through the Wild Card, and they were also 41-40 in their road games this season. They knocked the Orioles out of the playoffs by winning both road games in the Wild Card Round and their pitching was good in that series. They only gave up 1 run in their 2 games, but their offense struggled a lot in that series and they have struggled more in road games all season. This won't be an easy game on the road against the number 1 seed in the AL, especially when they have their ace on the mound. The Yankees are going with Cole in this one and he has struggled at times this season, but he has looked a lot better lately, just in time for the playoffs. The team has won 2 games in a row with him starting and he looked great in his last start, giving up no runs. The Royals are going with Wacha in this one and he has looked good this season with his 13-8 record and his 3.35 ERA, but he hasn't looked as good in his starts lately. The team has won 3 of the last 4 games he started in, but he did give up 3 earned runs in his last start and those are going to be costly against this offense. The Yankees have one of the best offenses in the MLB and even though the Royals made it by the Orioles in 2 road games, their offense wasn't good. There is no better guy to have on the mound than Cole either as he has been in this position many times and will rise to the occasion at home for this 1st playoff game. The best way to place a bet here is on the Yankees to win this game and on the runline. 

Royals Yankees Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Saturday, October 5, 2024 (6:38 pm ET start time) is Yankees 6 Royals 0.

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Kansas City Royals: 87-76 (+9.1 units) on the moneyline in all games. 43-40 (+6.2 units) on the moneyline in road games. 71-55 (+16.3 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 10-4 UNDER as a road underdog of +150 or more. 34-18 UNDER after 3 or more consecutive road games. 26-19 UNDER vs. teams outscoring opp by 0.5 or more runs/game on the season.

New York Yankees: 93-67 (-7.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 72-57 (-21.2 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 44-37 (-17.2 units) on the moneyline in home games. 8-12 (-11.7 units) on the moneyline after 3 consecutive games versus an interleague opponent. 

Kansas City Royals:  J. Taylor (RP) Sixty Day IL - Bicep. C. Ragans (SP) Questionable - Calf. H. Harvey (RP) Out - Back. J. McArthur (SP) Undefined - Hand. C. Stratton (RP) Undefined - Forearm. W. Smith (RP) Undefined - Back. K. Wright (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

New York Yankees:  L. Trivino (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. A. Rizzo (1B) Doubtful - Finger. N. Cortes Jr. (RP) Undefined - Elbow. J. Cousins (RP) Undefined - Upper Body. D. LeMahieu (2B) Ten Day IL - Hip. J. Brubaker (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Loaisiga (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“It’s so impressive that they believe in themselves and they trust their stuff and they just come after some of the best hitters in the world.” - Matt Quatraro after his team’s win against the Orioles in game 2 of their Wild Card Series on Wednesday.

“So many times it’s not the fancy, the sexy, big hits all the time. It’s the grinding out at-bats, working a walk, setting the table. Three really good ones there.” - Aaron Boone after his team’s win against the Pirates in their season finale on Sunday.

Michael Massey (L) 2B

Bobby Witt Jr. (R) SS

Vinnie Pasquantino (L) DH

Salvador Perez (R) C

Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B

MJ Melendez (L) LF

Hunter Renfroe (R) RF

Kyle Isbel (L) CF

Maikel Garcia (R) 3B

Gleyber Torres (R) 2B

Trent Grisham (L) CF

Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH

Jasson Domínguez (S) LF

Jon Berti (R) 3B

Alex Verdugo (L) RF

Anthony Volpe (R) SS

Ben Rice (L) 1B

Jose Trevino (R) C

Batting Average:  Bobby Witt (.332)

Hits:  Bobby Witt (211)

Home Runs:  Bobby Witt (32)

RBI:  Bobby Witt (109)

Stolen Bases:  Maikel Garcia (37)

Wins:  Seth Lugo (16)

Saves:  James McArthur (18)

ERA:  Jordan Lyles (0.00)

Batting Average:  Taylor Trammell (1.000)

Hits:  Aaron Judge (180)

Home Runs:  Aaron Judge (58)

RBI:  Aaron Judge (144)

Stolen Bases:  Anthony Volpe (28)

Wins:  Carlos Rodón (16)

Saves:  Clay Holmes (30)

ERA:  Jonathan Loáisiga (0.00)

Managers:

Kansas City Royals: Matt Quatraro (2nd season)

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone (7th season)