The Cleveland Guardians are set to take on the Kansas City Royals this Labor Day at Kauffman Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.
Cleveland (77-59 SU, 67-69 RL, and 66-64-6 O/U) will send right-hander Gavin Williams to the mound. The 25-year-old has a record of 2-7, carrying a 4.99 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP over 11 starts this season.
Kansas City (75-62 SU, 76-61 RL, and 64-70-3 O/U) anticipates starting righty Michael Wacha. The 33-year-old boasts an 11-6 record with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in 24 starts.
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*This article was published prior to the conclusion of Sunday’s games.
Can the Guardians Maintain Their AL Central Lead?
Cleveland holds a 2.5-game lead over Kansas City as they enter Sunday’s contests. The Guardians struggled last month, finishing at 12-17, and they have gone 19-22 since the All-Star break. Will they find their rhythm in September?
The Guardians are powered by All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez, who has 33 home runs and 104 RBIs, along with left fielder Steven Kwan, who has an OPS of .805. Currently, Cleveland ranks 17th in on-base percentage (.309) and 18th in OPS (.703). Their pitching unit has a 3.87 ERA, placing them 10th in the league, with a 1.23 WHIP, which ranks 8th.
Williams is set to take the mound for Cleveland. In his most recent appearance, he surrendered two runs on three hits while striking out six in a five-inning loss to the Royals. Against Kansas City, he has a 1-1 record with a 2.08 ERA in four career outings, showcasing a 58:21 K:BB ratio across 52.1 innings this season.
Royals Aiming to Continue Success Against Guardians
The Royals head into Sunday riding a four-game losing streak. They posted a 15-13 record in August and are 23-17 since the break. Will they capitalize on their recent success against the Guardians to climb the AL Central standings?
Kansas City’s offense is led by shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who has tallied 29 home runs and 96 RBIs, and catcher Salvador Perez, with 25 home runs and 94 RBIs. However, first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is sidelined for six to eight weeks due to a broken thumb sustained last Friday. The Royals currently rank 14th in on-base percentage (.312) and 12th in OPS (.733). Their pitching staff holds a 3.91 ERA, good for 11th in the league, with a 1.27 WHIP ranking 18th.
Wacha is slated to take the mound for Kansas City on Labor Day. In his last outing, he allowed five runs on nine hits while striking out seven in six innings against the Guardians. He has performed well historically against Cleveland, holding a 2-0 record with a 2.48 ERA in five career appearances. This season, Wacha has a 120:38 K:BB ratio across 139.0 innings.
Best Bets for Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals
Betting Trends: Kansas City has an impressive 29-14 record (67.4%) in division matchups, including a strong 7-3 performance in their last ten games against Cleveland.
The Royals are expected to bounce back offensively after several low-scoring games against the Astros. With a standout player like Witt, they have shown greater run production at Kauffman Stadium, averaging 5.2 runs at home compared to 4.4 on the road. Facing Williams for the second time in less than a week may yield better results for them.
Wacha, who did not pitch at his best against the Guardians previously, is poised for a stronger performance at home, where he has a record of 6-1 and a 3.13 ERA across 11 appearances this season. The Guardians have not been hitting well in the second half, scoring an average of 4.2 runs on the road compared to 4.9 at home, with a batting average of .225.
