The Cleveland Guardians (78-59) are on the hunt to halt their streak of road series losses as they prepare to face the Kansas City Royals (75-63) in the second game of a three-game series this Tuesday night. The matchup will take place at Kauffman Stadium, with a start time set for 7:40 PM ET.
Tanner Bibee, sporting a 10-6 record and a 3.65 ERA, is slated to take the mound for the Guardians. The Royals will respond with Brady Singer, who has a record of 9-9 and a 3.36 ERA.
The Royals currently hold a favorable 7-3 record in their last 10 encounters against Cleveland.
**This preview was composed prior to Monday’s game.**
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Guardians Aim to Extend AL Central Advantage
The Guardians have recently turned their fortunes around, winning three out of their last four games, but their lead in the AL Central has tightened to just 3.5 games over the Royals. They aim to capitalize on this momentum and enhance their division lead with a crucial victory on Tuesday.
Cleveland is averaging 4.54 runs per game. While their .238 batting average ranks 22nd in the league, they hold a .309 on-base percentage (17th) and a .394 slugging percentage (18th). Steven Kwan leads the Guardians with a .301 batting average, while Jose Ramirez stands out with 33 home runs and 104 RBIs.
The Guardians’ pitching staff has been solid, allowing just 3.81 runs per game. Opponents are hitting .235 against them, placing Cleveland sixth in that category. They maintain a 3.87 ERA (10th) and a WHIP of 1.23 (eighth). In his most recent outing, Bibee surrendered eight hits and five runs over five innings, resulting in a 7-5 victory against the Royals. A stronger performance will be necessary for the Guardians to secure a win.
Royals Pursuing Series Sweep
After struggling last week and facing a series sweep at the hands of the Astros, the Royals find themselves just 3.5 games behind the Guardians in the AL Central standings. Despite their recent struggles, Kansas City has had the upper hand in their matchups against Cleveland this season, winning seven of the ten games played. They are determined to keep their hopes of a division title alive by achieving a season series sweep.
Kansas City averages 4.82 runs per game, boasting a .256 batting average that ranks sixth in the league. Their on-base percentage stands at .312 (14th), and their slugging percentage is .421 (eighth). Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with a .341 batting average and 29 home runs, while Vinnie Pasquantino tops the team with 97 RBIs.
Key Predictions for Guardians vs. Royals
The Guardians have demonstrated resilience, winning three of their last four games, while the Royals are reeling with five losses in their previous six games. Cleveland’s offense has been prolific, scoring 23 runs in their last four contests, whereas Kansas City’s offense has struggled, managing only nine runs in the same span. Given Singer’s recent difficulties on the mound, allowing seven runs in his last two starts, and Kansas City’s shaky bullpen, it is expected that the Guardians will continue their offensive surge. Conversely, Bibee has performed admirably for Cleveland, especially on the road. With the Guardians boasting one of the league’s top bullpens, they are well-equipped to neutralize Kansas City’s offense. Betting on Cleveland to cover the money line appears to be a sound choice.
