The Kansas City Royals visit the division rival Cleveland Indians Friday at Progressive Field for a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch. We analyze the Royals-Indians MLB betting odds and lines, with betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Royals at Indians: Projected starting pitchers
LHP Danny Duffy vs. RHP Shane Bieber
Duffy was 7-6 with a 4.34 ERA, 115 K’s and 1.31 WHIP in 2019.
- Duffy went 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA across two starts vs. Cleveland in 2019.
- The southpaw posted a 5-5 record with a 4.99 ERA and allowed 14 homers in 83 innings across 15 evening starts last season.
Bieber emerged as the Indians’ ace in 2019, registering a 15-8 record, 3.28 ERA and 259 strikeouts with a 1.05 WHIP in 34 appearances (33 starts).
- Bieber’s 259 strikeouts ranked third in the majors, while he was 15th in ERA.
- Bieber won his only decision vs. Kansas City but posted a marginal 4.50 ERA and .279 opponent batting average in three starts across 18 innings.
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Royals at Indians: Key injuries
(List of injuries around the league)
Royals
- C Cam Gallagher has been designated for the COVID-19 injured list after testing positive, and his return date is unclear.
Indians
- CF Delino DeShields is also on the 10-day injured list, as the team wants him to have extra time to recover from his bout with coronavirus. OFs Jordan Luplow (back) and Tyler Naquin (toe) are questionable for the opener.
Royals at Indians: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Wednesday at 7 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Indians 5, Royals 2
Moneyline (ML)
AVOID. The Indians (-209) should get off on the right foot with their ace on the hill, but risking more than two times your potential return is not a recommended strategy, especially for Game 1. You’re better off looking to the run line.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Indians (-209) to win straight up nets a return of just $4.78 if they do so.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Play the INDIANS (-1.5, -110) on the run line, as they look to start out victorious on their home field. While there will not be any fans in the stands at Progressive Field to spur them on, the familiarity of their home park combined with an inferior opponent should mean a successful opener for the Tribe. The Royals are a dismal 9-27 in their past 36 trips to Cleveland.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 8.5 (-110) is the recommended play, although it will be a close shave. The Under has hit in four of the previous five head-to-head meetings in Northeast Ohio, and with the strangeness of the COVID-19 late start and rust, look for plenty of Under results early on until teams get their sea legs.
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