A three-game series unfolds in the American League on Tuesday as the Kansas City Royals (79-65, 2nd in AL Central) face off against the New York Yankees (82-61, 1st in AL East). The series kicked off with a game on Monday night (Note: This article was published prior to Monday’s results). Kansas City recently completed a sweep of the Minnesota Twins at home, while New York took two of three from the Chicago Cubs. Back in early June, these teams met for a four-game series, with the Yankees winning three of those matchups. Seth Lugo (3.05 ERA) will take the mound for the Royals, while Marcus Stroman (4.03 ERA) gets the nod for the Yankees. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 EST at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
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Royals Riding Positive Momentum
The Kansas City Royals have exhibited a pattern of streaky play recently. In their last 14 games, they managed a three-game win streak, followed by a seven-game losing streak, and have now strung together four consecutive victories. As both teams vie for playoff spots, the Royals aim to build on their current momentum against the Yankees. They find themselves just 2.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central race and hold the second Wild Card position, enjoying a 2.5-game buffer over their nearest competitors.
In their latest outing against Minnesota, Michael Wacha delivered an impressive seven scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and securing his 100th career win. Post-game, Wacha expressed, “It’s definitely a cool number for sure, something that was on my goal list coming into the season. It was definitely one of those days when (Bubic and Erceg) came in and slammed the door there.” The Royals’ scoring came in the fifth inning, highlighted by a sacrifice fly from Garrett Hampson and an RBI-single from Salvador Perez. Perez, batting third in the lineup, boasts 25 home runs and 95 RBIs with a .270 batting average. Bobby Witt Jr. continues to shine, leading the majors with a .336 batting average alongside 30 home runs and 98 RBIs, positioning himself as a contender for the AL MVP Award.
Seth Lugo is set to make his 30th start of the season. He stands out as the team’s leader in both starts and innings pitched, embodying their best starting pitcher this season. Lugo holds a record of 15-8, although the Royals have gone 2-3 in his last five outings. With an ERA of 3.05, he has tallied 159 strikeouts against 45 walks while allowing 15 home runs. In his previous start, Lugo pitched seven innings, giving up just one earned run to secure a victory over the Guardians.
Yankees Maintain Division Aspirations
The competition for the AL East title remains fierce, with the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles trading places at the top of the standings throughout the season. Both teams have created a clear divide from the lower tier of the division. The second-place team is likely to qualify for the playoffs, as Baltimore trails the Yankees by half a game but enjoys a comfortable 5.5-game lead in the Wild Card standings. In their recent matchup against the Cubs, the Yankees narrowly missed the series sweep, managing only one run in a 2-1 defeat on Sunday.
The series against Chicago featured low scoring, as the Yankees secured victories in the first two games with a combined score of 5-0. In Sunday’s game, the Cubs managed just three hits but scored two runs in the first inning, which proved sufficient for the win. New York’s lone run came from a sacrifice fly by Anthony Volpe in the second inning. Volpe has been shuffled in the lineup, having spent time as a leadoff hitter but currently batting eighth. As the shortstop, he leads the team with 26 stolen bases and has 60 more at-bats than any other player on the roster. Aaron Judge’s stellar performance this season—51 home runs and 125 RBIs with a .321 batting average—could overshadow Witt Jr.’s MVP aspirations. Meanwhile, Juan Soto continues to shine with 38 home runs, ranking fourth in the league.
Marcus Stroman is scheduled for his 28th start this season. The 33-year-old right-hander boasts a 10-7 record, with the Yankees going 3-2 in his recent five starts. He owns an ERA of 4.03, having recorded 105 strikeouts against 58 walks and allowing 18 home runs this season. In his last outing, Stroman lasted only 3.2 innings, giving up five earned runs in a loss to the Texas Rangers.
Best Bets for Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees
Despite the Yankees’ strong season, they have accumulated 61 losses. No team is without flaws, and betting against the Yankees in the right conditions can yield profits, as they often enter games as favorites. This matchup presents an opportunity to back the Royals. With Lugo on the mound, he has proven to be the most effective pitcher for Kansas City this season and earned a spot in the All-Star Game. Lugo’s ERA is nearly a full run lower than Stroman’s, demonstrating superior control. He has pitched 43 more innings than Stroman while allowing 15 fewer walks. This capability to keep runners off the bases is critical when facing hitters like Judge and Soto, who heavily rely on home runs. The Royals have shown signs of improvement, currently on a four-game winning streak. Betting on the Royals to maintain their momentum with the better pitcher could be wise.
