Yankees vs Royals Expert Picks, Predictions & Props to Bet (May 27)
By Chris Amberley in MLB Baseball
Published:
- Trust the Yankees to take care of business today versus the Royals
- New York’s pitching staff enters play with a tidy 3.24 ERA this season
- Below, you’ll find the best Yankees vs Royals expert picks, predictions and props to bet for May 27
The New York Yankees (32-22) wrap up their three-game series with the Kansas City Royals (22-32) at Kauffman Stadium tonight, with first pitch scheduled for 7:40 PM EST on the YES Network and Bally Sports. The Bronx Bombers have taken the first two contests and online sportsbooks are expecting them to complete the sweep per the latest MLB odds.
With New York leaning on elite probable starter Gerrit Cole, and Kansas City turning to Noah Cameron in hopes of bouncing back, I’m looking to bet the Yankees in what I project to be a lower scoring affair than the market.
Below, you’ll find the best Yankees vs Royals expert picks and predictions, as well as props to bet for the May 27th matchup.
Yankees vs Royals Expert Picks and Predictions
- Yankees moneyline (-155 at DraftKings)
- Under 9 total runs (-118 on Caesars)
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My official Yankees vs Royals predictions are the Yankees moneyline and Under 9 runs. The underlying statistical profile points heavily toward an outright victory for the visitors. New York holds a distinct advantage on the mound.
The Yankees pitching staff has compiled a stellar 3.24 team ERA and a 1.18 WHIP per the MLB starting lineups data. This significantly outpaces the Royals staff ERA of 4.19 and 1.36 WHIP. With New York boasting a superior .752 team OPS compared to a .691 mark for Kansas City, backing the road favorite is logical.
As for the total, the Royals have found it difficult to manufacture runs this season, totaling just 210 runs with a modest .378 team slugging percentage. Facing an elite arm like Cole makes scoring even tougher.
Kansas City has trended heavily toward low-scoring games recently. Over their previous 10 contests, the Under has hit at a massive 70.0% clip. The Royals are also struggling as underdogs, winning just 37.5% of their matchups this year when not favored.
Gerrit Cole vs Noah Cameron Stats
Cole will take the mound looking to build on his first start this season. While his flawless 0.00 ERA and microscopic .105 opponent batting average across 6.0 innings are impressive, he was dealing with rust after a lengthy lay off due to surgery. He walked more batters than he struck out in his debut, leading to a 3.90 FIP.
Cameron holds a 2-3 record through 47.2 innings. His 4.72 ERA and 1.45 WHIP leave a lot to be desired, but a 3.60 FIP paints the picture of a pitcher experiencing bad luck on balls in play. Cameron showcases solid strikeout capabilities with 8.31 K/9.
Yankees vs Royals Stats
Isolating New York’s road numbers against Kansas City’s home output reveals a tight contest at the plate. The Royals have been highly effective offensively within Kauffman Stadium, ranking sixth in home batting average at .254.
Conversely, the Yankees have gone somewhat quiet away from the Bronx. They are averaging just 3.93 runs per game on the road, hampered by a sluggish .224 away batting average. Despite these situational gaps, New York possesses a glaring advantage in run prevention, and should be able to shut down the KC bats.
Yankees vs Royals Odds
Odds as of May 26. Claim the Caesars promo code to bet on MLB today.
Yankees vs Royals Props to Bet
- Aaron Judge to hit a Home Run (+260 on DraftKings)
- Aaron Judge Over 1.5 Total Bases (-110 on DraftKings)
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For my favorite MLB prop bets, I’m looking at Aaron Judge to hit a Home Run. Judge has been an absolute wrecking ball, leading the lineup with 17 home runs, a .556 slugging percentage, and a robust .933 OPS. Per the MLB batter vs pitcher stats, Judge is 1-for-4 against Cameron, taking him deep last time they met.
Speaking of Cameron, he’s allowed nearly a home run per nine innings. If he exits early, the leaky Kansas City bullpen presents an equally vulnerable target. If you prefer a safer floor, I also love Judge Over 1.5 Total Bases. He’s cleared that line in both games of this series, and in three straight outings overall.
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Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.