Ny Yankees vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions September 11th 2024

Yankees look to bounce back from shutout loss to Royals

At 7:05 PM ET, the Royals and Yankees will face off in an AL matchup. This one is taking place at Yankee Stadium in New York, and the Yankees are the heavy favorites on the money line at -143. The Royals have a money line odds of +122 compared to the Yankees at -143.

Wednesday’s forecast in New York calls for cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80s. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs, and the game will be televised on BSKC. Luis Gil is starting for the Yankees, and the Royals are going with Cole Ragans. Kansas City is 2nd in the AL Central, and they have an overall record of 80-66. The Yankees are 1st in the AL East at 83-62.

Kansas City vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Royals at Yankees
• Where: Yankee Stadium New York
• Date: Wednesday, September 11th
• Betting Odds NYY -143 | KC +122 O/U 8

The Royals Can Win If…

Cole Ragans gets the start for the Royals today as he faces the Yankees on the road. He has made 29 starts this season and has a record of 11-9 with an ERA of 3.33. Ragans’ WHIP for the season is currently 1.15. In his 29 appearances, he has turned in 18 quality starts and is coming off a complete-game shutout. In that outing, he gave up just four hits, one walk, and struck out seven. Looking at his overall numbers, Ragans has a total of 204 strikeouts, and his ERA on the road is 3.18 compared to 5.29 at home.

Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. have been two of the Royals’ top hitters this season, with Perez leading the team with 100 RBIs and Witt Jr. not far behind with 99. Witt Jr. has also been one of the best power hitters in the league, as his 30 homers are 11th in the MLB. Witt Jr. comes into the game on a four-game hitting streak, as does Perez. Over his last five games, Perez is hitting .389 with six RBIs.

As a team, the Royals are averaging 4.7 runs per game and have been even better at home, putting up 5 runs per contest. Overall, they have the 6th best team batting average in the league and are 2nd in the league in avoiding strikeouts. Kansas City’s team on-base percentage and OPS are both right around the league average.

• The Royals are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Royals are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Kansas City has an over/under record of 2-7-1 in their last ten games.
• The Royals have an average of 4.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Royals are 4-6
• Looking back across the Royals last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Kansas City has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Royals have averaged 4.2 runs per game on offense

The Yankees Can Win If…

Luis Gil has been pitching well for the Yankees, as he has a record of 13-6 and an ERA of 3.24. In his 25 starts, Gil has turned in 10 quality starts and is averaging 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Looking back at his most recent outing, Gil didn’t allow a run in six innings of work against the Cubs. He only gave up one hit in that outing. Before that, he had given up at least three earned runs in three straight starts. Gil’s ERA at home is 6.18 compared to 3.77 on the road.

As a team, the Yankees are averaging 5 runs per game, which is 2nd in the league. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. Overall, they are the league’s top home run hitting team and have the 2nd best team on-base percentage in the league. New York has been very disciplined at the plate this season, as they are the league’s top walk-drawing team.

Heading into the game, both DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres are on nice hitting streaks, with LeMahieu at 5 games and Torres at 11. Torres has also been swinging a hot bat of late, hitting .381 over his last 10 games. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are the team’s top two home run hitters, with Judge leading the league with 51 homers and Soto’s 38 homers putting him 4th in the league.

• The Yankees are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Yankees are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Yankees have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Yankees are 4-6
• Looking back across the Yankees last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• New York has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Yankees have averaged 3.5 runs per game on offense

The Lean

There should be no shortage of offense in today’s Royals and Yankees matchup, and not only are we leaning towards the Royals picking up the win, but we like our chances of the over hitting. The Royals have our 8th ranked offense in terms of hits, and the Yankees have the 5th best home run projection. Luis Gil has the 5th best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters.

The Kansas City Royals have made a remarkable turnaround this season and are now on the brink of clinching their first winning season since 2015, when they captured their second World Series title. With just two more wins, the Royals (80-66) are set to achieve a milestone that reflects their progress under second-year manager Matt Quatraro. Their recent victory over the New York Yankees has further solidified their push toward a postseason berth.

Royals Poised for First Winning Season Since World Series Glory

After enduring several disappointing seasons, including a 56-106 record in 2022, the Royals are now within striking distance of their first winning season in nearly a decade. The team’s rebuild under Quatraro appears to be taking shape, with Kansas City just two wins shy of officially clinching a .500 season or better. This would mark their first winning campaign since going 95-67 and winning the World Series in 2015.

Since that title run, the Royals have struggled to regain their footing, recording 100-loss seasons three times. However, this year’s performance signals a clear shift in their fortunes, reflecting both improvement and resilience as they head toward the finish line.

Royals Even Series Against Yankees in Dominant Fashion

Kansas City bounced back from a 10-4 loss to the Yankees on Monday by delivering an emphatic 5-0 win on Tuesday night. The victory came thanks to a stellar pitching performance from Seth Lugo, who struck out 10 batters across seven scoreless innings. Lugo, combined with two relievers, held the Yankees to just three hits, earning the Royals their fifth win in six games.

This victory was crucial for Kansas City’s playoff aspirations, as they currently occupy the second American League Wild Card position. They remain 3.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central, making every win critical as the season winds down.

“We knew Monday was a tough loss, and we really wanted to even the series here,” said Lugo. “The Yankees are a strong team, so coming out and dominating like this shows how much progress we’ve made.”

Salvador Perez’s Veteran Leadership Shines

Veteran catcher Salvador Perez continues to be a force for the Royals, contributing two RBIs in the win to bring his season total to 100. This marks the second time in Perez’s illustrious career that he has reached the 100-RBI milestone, further cementing his role as a leader in the Royals’ lineup.

Kansas City’s offense recorded 11 hits in the game, marking the third time in six games that they have achieved double-digit hits. Their ability to consistently generate offense has been a key factor in their late-season surge.

Wild Card Race Heats Up

The Royals’ recent form has been a major factor in their climb up the standings. They are now securely in the second Wild Card spot, with their eyes set on a possible postseason berth. With a few more wins, they can solidify their spot in the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

While catching Cleveland for the AL Central title may be a challenge, maintaining their hold on the Wild Card position is crucial. The team’s resurgence comes at the perfect time, as their combination of strong pitching and timely hitting has put them in a prime position to make a run at the postseason.

Yankees Struggling to Keep Pace in AL East

On the other side, the New York Yankees have found themselves in a slump at a critical point in the season. Despite fielding one of their best lineups, including highly-touted prospect Jasson Dominguez in left field, the Yankees managed just three hits and were shut out for the eighth time this season.

New York’s offensive struggles have been exacerbated by the recent slump of star slugger Aaron Judge, who went 0-for-4 in the loss. Judge is hitting just .196 over his last 51 at-bats, a concerning dip in form as the Yankees try to fend off the Baltimore Orioles for the AL East crown. The Yankees’ lead over Baltimore has been trimmed to just half a game, putting increased pressure on the team as they approach the season’s final stretch.

Pitching Duel Ahead: Luis Gil vs. Cole Ragans

The next matchup in the series will feature a promising pitching duel between Yankees right-hander Luis Gil (13-6, 3.24 ERA) and Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.33 ERA).

Gil is making his second start since returning from a back strain and is coming off a dominant outing in Chicago, where he allowed just one hit over six innings in a 3-0 win against the Cubs. Over his last eight starts, Gil has been reliable, posting a 2.85 ERA.

Ragans, meanwhile, is coming off his fifth scoreless start of the season. In his last appearance, he held the Minnesota Twins scoreless over six innings, striking out seven and allowing just four hits in a 5-0 win. Ragans has been a consistent force in the Royals’ rotation and will be looking to deliver another strong performance as Kansas City aims to secure the series.

Yankees’ Offensive Concerns Continue

While Gleyber Torres extended his hitting streak to 11 games with two of New York’s three hits, the rest of the Yankees lineup continues to struggle. Torres is batting .378 over his streak, but the Yankees’ inability to avoid strikeouts is alarming—they struck out 14 times in the loss, matching a season-high.

Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ most reliable power hitter, has not hit a home run since August 25. His recent slump has placed additional pressure on the rest of the lineup, which has struggled to step up in his absence. If Judge and the Yankees don’t regain their offensive rhythm soon, their postseason hopes could be in jeopardy.

Royals’ Playoff Hopes Look Bright

As the Royals push toward their first winning season in eight years, their momentum on both offense and defense has them positioned for a strong finish. With key contributions from veterans like Salvador Perez and breakout performances from pitchers like Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans, Kansas City has emerged as a legitimate playoff contender.

Whether they can maintain their Wild Card position or even challenge Cleveland for the AL Central crown remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Royals are no longer the rebuilding team they were just a year ago. With a few more wins, they could be writing the next chapter of a remarkable turnaround story.

Conclusion

The Kansas City Royals have transformed from a 100-loss team last year to a serious contender this season. As they close in on their first winning season since 2015, the Royals are proving they have the talent and determination to compete at a high level. Their upcoming games against the Yankees will be crucial, not just for securing a winning record, but for keeping their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Yankees will need to overcome their recent offensive struggles if they hope to hold off the surging Orioles in the AL East.

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