MLB Betting Play – Royals Take On Indians

Bottom feeders in the American League Central face off with each other on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium, as the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians duke it out in MLB betting action.

Both of these teams were off yesterday.

Kansas City is returning home after a long 11 game road trip in which it lost its final five games and seven of its L/8.

Cleveland just wrapped up eight straight home games and went a woeful 2-6 in the eight tries at Progressive Field against the Twins, Blue Jays, and Tigers.

Cleveland Indians (11-18, -$441) vs. Kansas City Royals (11-21, -$419)

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, May 11th, 8:10 ET
Game Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
TV/Radio Broadcast: Sports Time Ohio, Fox Sports Kansas City, XM

MLB Odds

Cleveland Indians +1.5 -220 -110
(Jake Westbrook – R)
Kansas City Royals -1.5 +180 -110
(Brian Bannister – R)
Total 9 O -105 9 U -115

RHP Jake Westbrook would rather forget about his most recent start last Tuesday. He allowed four runs, three of which were earned, in 3.2 innings. He also walked five batters and allowed five hits in an 8-5 loss to Toronto at home.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA this year, and he clearly doesn’t look to be up to par at the MLB level any longer.

Westbrook has only struck out more than three batters in a game all season long, and he has allowed at least three earned runs in all but one start. He has also only completed more than six frames once.

In his career against the Royals, Westbrook is a solid 5-3 with a 2.65 ERA, but he hasn’t pitched against the man of royalty since 2007.

Speaking of starts that you’d rather forget, RHP Brian Bannister has one of those in his record recently as well. He allowed seven earned runs in 3.0 innings of work against the White Sox at US Cellular Field on Wednesday and suffered the defeat in a 9-2 loss.

Bannister however, has shown flashes of brilliance this year. He has held four of his six foes to either one or two earned runs, and pitched at least 6.0 innings in all four of those quality outings.

The gopher ball is a major problem for the righty though, as he has allowed six dingers in as many starts and has only had one start in which he didn’t give up at least one home run.

Bannister is 4-1 with a 2.34 ERA in eight lifetime starts against the Tribe.

MLB Insider Tip: The Indians are only 5-30 in their L/35 road games overall.

The bottom line here is that we have two very comparable pitchers going up against each other. The oddsmakers refuse to see the fact that Kansas City most likely has a better team, and between that and home field advantage, seeing basically an even money bet on both sides is a bit of an insult to the hosts.

The Royals are the MLB betting play on Tuesday night.

My MLB Prediction: Kansas City Royals (Bannister)