- What: MLB Divisional Series Playoff Game
- When: Monday, October 7th
- Who: Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees
- Time: 4:38 p.m. PST
- Where: Yankee Stadium (The Bronx, NY)
The Kansas City Royals will try to bounce back and avoid falling behind 2-0 to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.
The first game of this series was a heavyweight fight, with each team trading shots, featuring the most lead changes ever in a playoff game.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals started the first game well and were able to hit and score runs against Gerrit Cole. They scored three runs and had seven hits in the five innings he was in the game.
Unfortunately for the Royals, they had used their two best pitchers (Ragans and Lugo) in the Wild Card series against the Orioles. Once the Yankees got to Wacha, the Royals had to use most of their bullpen.
The good news for the Royals is they are sending their ace back to the mound today in Cole Ragans. He has been exceptional for the Royals this season.
Our #ALDS Game 2 starter was dialed in for his postseason debut. @canva pic.twitter.com/FYo8ajWX0e
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 7, 2024
Ragans had a 3.14 ERA and averaged 10.77 strikeouts per nine innings. He was terrific against the Orioles, striking out eight and allowing no runs.
Ragans was a better pitcher on the road this season. His ERA was almost an entire run lower. Last month, Ragans pitched very well against the Yankees. He pitched six innings, allowing just two runs and three hits and striking out seven.
If Ragans is pitching well, the Royals could absolutely even up this series tonight.
New York Yankees
The Yankees lineup was terrific in the first game of this series. Every time the Royals took the lead, the Yankees answered. It was a tremendous performance from this team to win the game despite the subpar performance from Gerrit Cole.
The Yankees will be sending out Carlos Rodon to the mound. Rodon has been a much better pitcher at Yankee Stadium than on the road this season. His ERA was nearly two runs lower at home than on the road.
Game 2 from The Bronx Zoo. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/wlkamdEDUD
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 7, 2024
He also performed well against the Royals this season, pitching 13 innings, allowing 10 hits, and striking out 12. The Yankees bullpen has been one of the best in baseball and came through in a huge way for them in the first game of this series.
The Yankees lineup was fantastic this season. They led baseball in home runs and hit .248 as a team. They’ve also averaged 5.3 runs per game at home.
Royals-Yankees Best Bet
I think we’re in for a great pitching matchup today and as much as I would like to back the Royals to even the series I don’t think it’s the best bet in this one.
The total of 7.5 runs looks enticing to me. The first game had 11 runs and the Royals ended up leaving seven men on base, but today I’m backing the pitching.
Under 7.5 runs at -115 odds is the best bet in this one.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
