The New York Yankees host the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, April 18. First pitch from Yankee Stadium is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ROYL and MLB.TV.
The Yankees are favored by -158 on the moneyline and by -1.5 (+126) on the run line. The Royals, meanwhile, are +134 on the moneyline and +1.5 (-152) on the run line. The over/under sits at 8 total runs.
Find my MLB picks and Royals vs Yankees prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Royals vs Yankees Prediction
- Royals vs Yankees Pick: Yankees -1.5 (Play to -105)
My Royals vs Yankees best bet is on New York to cover the run line. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Royals vs Yankees Odds
| Royals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -152 | 8 -122o / +100u | +134 |
| Yankees Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +126 | 8 -122o / +100u | -158 |
- Royals vs Yankees Moneyline: Royals +134, Yankees -158
- Royals vs Yankees Over/Under: 8 (-122o / +100o)
- Royals vs Yankees Run Line: Royals +1.5 (-152), Yankees -1.5 (+126)
Royals vs Yankees MLB Betting Preview
Kansas City Royals Betting Preview: Pitching Leading the Way
The Royals are off to a tough start, going 7-13 in 20 games, putting them fourth in the AL Central.
They’ll give the ball to southpaw Noah Cameron in Game 2 of this series in the Bronx.
A 26-year-old with very little prospect cache, Cameron burst onto the scene last year, posting a 2.99 ERA in 24 starts. This year, his ERA sits at 3.94 with a 5.22 xERA and a 3.79 FIP.
Cameron is a bit of a throwback. He throws around 91 MPH on his four-seamer and is mainly a fly-ball pitcher. Cameron records just 20% of his outs via the strikeout and 24% of them on the ground.
Despite the low velocity, Cameron ranks in the 94th percentile in fastball run value due to deception and ride on his four-seamer.
Cameron went his first two outings without allowing a homer but allowed two in his most recent start. Pitching in the bandbox that is Yankee Stadium could be a unique challenge for the soft-tosser.
Pitching isn’t the issue for the Royals; the issue is hitting. They sit 25th in MLB with an 83 wRC+ and are in the bottom six in home runs and isolated power.
Two of the main power suppliers for Kansas City, Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino, have combined for two homers. Witt was supposed to contend for an MVP this year. Instead, he has an uncharacteristically below-average 97 wRC+.
New York Yankees Betting Preview: Heating Up Again
The Yankees started the season with a strong 7-1 record but have since dipped to an 11-9 mark due to their recent cold streak.
New York is 3-1 in games started by Will Warren, and he'll draw the Saturday start.
It's a mixed bag for Warren. He has a 2.45 ERA but has gotten past the fifth inning just one time in four starts. His FIP comes in at 3.72 and his xERA sits at 3.55, so he's a bit lucky — but nothing too crazy.
Warren simply works too deep into counts and hunts for the strikeout, leading to shorter outings.
Overall, improved command has made Warren a better pitcher. His BB/9 is down from 3.60 to 2.95, and his Location+ is up to 114 from 97 last year.
Also, his velocity is up a whole tick, and he can hit 96-97 earlier in outings. If Warren can pitch deeper in games to limit the impact of the Yankees' terrible bullpen, it would be a boost.
Offensively, the Yankees are off to a tough start. For an offense with this much proven talent, ranking 16th with a wRC+ of 100 isn't good enough.
They still hit homers and draw walks, but stringing together rallies is a foreign concept to these Bronx Bombers.
Aaron Judge is finally getting hot, as his wRC+ is up to 156, which ranks second on the team behind Ben Rice's 219 wRC+.
They need more from Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm and Cody Bellinger. Chisholm has yet to homer and is hitting below .200, while Bellinger is hitting .246, and Grisham sits at .155.
That's three of the top five or six hitters in the lineup who just aren't performing. But given their track records, I expect that to change soon enough.
Royals vs Yankees Pick, Betting Analysis
Cameron's first outing at Yankee Stadium could be a tough one.
I didn't value him too highly entering the year since his stuff isn't exactly MLB-caliber. He managed to make it work last year, but homers will eventually haunt him with his fly-ball rate and low-velocity fastball.
While the Yankees are lefty-heavy, some of these lefties can hit either side. Bellinger posts close to even splits, and Rice has shown improvements against southpaws this year.
Aaron Boone has been hesitant to play Rice against lefties, but he's forcing the manager's hand.
Give me plus-money on the run line with New York here.
Pick: Yankees -1.5 (Play to -105)
