Kansas City vs Cleveland Odds, Picks, and Betting Lines (Sep. 20)
By Robert Duff in MLB Baseball
Published:
- Cleveland are -143 home favorites over the Kansas City Royals in an American League Central game slated for Monday, September 20
- It’s the first of a day-night doubleheader; Cleveland has won 10 straight games from KC
- See the odds, stats and a breakdown of the game below
When KC faces Cleveland (73-74, 36-36 home) on the diamond this season, sunshine is banned. It’s been all gloom and doom as far as the Kansas City Royals (67-82, 31-43 away) are concerned when they are up against their American League Central rivals from Ohio.
This will be the 12th meeting of the MLB season between these two ballclubs. Cleveland is 10-1 overall. They’ve won the last 10 games in a row when opposing KC.
To no one’s surprise, oddsmakers are backing Cleveland to make it 11 in a row. They’ve been established as -143 favorites. Kansas City is 25-38 as an away underdog this season.
Royals vs Cleveland Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | +120 | +1.5 (-175) | O 7 (-120) |
| Cleveland | -143 | -1.5 (+145 | U 7 (+100) |
Odds as of September 20th at BetMGM
First pitch for this opener of a twi-night doubleheader is 4:10pm ET at Progressive Field. Cloudy skies, 6 mph wind and a temperature of 81 degrees are in the weather forecast.
Singer vs McKenzie
| 4-10 | Record | 5-6 |
| 4.85 | ERA | 4.28 |
| 4.62 | xERA | 3.97 |
| 1.56 | WHIP | 1.06 |
| 2.33 | SO/W Ratio | 2.54 |
Right-hander Singer has won as many games as he did last season. However, he’s lost twice as many as a year ago when he was 4-5 and eighth in AL Rookie of the year voting.
He’s won once since June 2. Singer is 1-6 over his last 14 starts. He is 0-4 on the road this season.
I feel like whatever way Whit gets back at Brady Singer for this won’t be equal pic.twitter.com/gzEvDCho9d
— Cody Tapp (@codybtapp) August 29, 2021
Singer was knocked around hard in his last start on September 11 at Minnesota as he suffered his third loss in six starts. Singer was roughed up for seven hits, including five home runs, and six earned runs in just 4.2 innings pitched. He’d only surrendered nine homers over 116 innings prior to that game.
Singer has faced Cleveland just once this season. On May 5 he gave up three earned runs over 5.2 innings. He didn’t figure in the decision as Kansas City lost 6-5. Overall, he’s 1-0 with a 2.41 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in three career starts against Cleveland.
He’s made two previous starts at Progressive Field and is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 0.61 WHIP.
Cleveland’s McKenzie is 4-1 with a 1.09 ERA over his last five starts. He’s not allowed more than one earned run in any of those starts (four earned runs in 33 innings pitched). And he’s only surrendered 11 hits, none of them home runs, while striking out 39 batters.
Triston McKenzie, folks.
âš¾ The first pitcher in @Indians history with 6+ innings pitched and 3 or fewer hits allowed in 5 consecutive starts.
âš¾ The first pitcher in club history with 6+ innings pitched and 5 or fewer hits allowed in 7 consecutive starts.#OurCLE pic.twitter.com/FdR6esDiHG
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 14, 2021
Included in that five-start run was a 4-2 victory over KC on September 2. McKenzie allowed two hits and one earned run over six innings and struck out six.
He’s faced the Royals four times in 2021. McKenzie is 2-0 with a 1.43 ERA and 0.78 WHIP over 21.2 innings. In six career appearances against Kansas City, McKenzie is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 0.73 WHIP.
Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers
| Royals Batters | Batting Average vs McKenzie | Cleveland Batters | Batting Average vs Singer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanser Alberto | .000 | Bobby Bradley | .000 |
| Andrew Benintendi | .100 | Yu Chang | .000 |
| Hunter Dozier | .200 | Ernie Clement | .000 |
| Kyle Isbel | .000 | Andres Gimenez | .500 |
| Nicky Lopez | .182 | Austin Hedges | .400 |
| Whit Merrifield | .143 | Oscar Mercado | .000 |
| Adalberto Mondesi | .000 | Owen Miller | .000 |
| Ryan O’Hearn | .000 | Roberto Perez | .000 |
| Salvador Perez | .100 | Harold Ramirez | .000 |
| Sebsatian Rivero | .000 | Jose Ramirez | .250 |
| Carlos Santana | .000 | Franmil Reyes | .000 |
| Michael A Taylor | .333 | Myles Straw | .000 |
| — | — | Bradley Zimmer | .500 |
Royals outfielder Michael A. Taylor is 2-for-6 (.333) when facing McKenzie. No other KC batter is hitting better than .200 off of him. Salvador Perez has tied Johnny Bench’s MLB record for home runs in a season by catchers with 45. But he’s only 1-for-10 (.100) against McKenzie.
Austin Hedges does it again!#OurCLE pic.twitter.com/oQT0F5LZwu
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 2, 2021
Cleveland outfielder Bradley Zimmer and middle infielder Andres Gimenez are both 1-for-2 (.500) when facing Singer. Catcher Austin Hedges is 2-for-5 (.400).
Royals vs Cleveland Pick
Singer is being activated from the IL for this game. No designation was given for his injury. That’s led to speculation that the issue was COVID-19 related.
Cleveland scored 22 runs in back-to-back weekend wins over the Yankees. They’ve scored 30 runs in their last four games against KC.
McKenzie is setting franchise records. The right-hander hasn’t permitted more than two earned runs in a game over six starts. He hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a single start since July.
Singer is coming off the IL and his worst start of the season. This has mismatch written all over it.
- Pick: Cleveland (-143).
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
