Yankees vs Royals Picks & Player Props to Bet

• The New York Yankees are favored in the first of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals
• The pitching matchup features Will Warren up against Michael Wacha
• Keep reading for my Yankees vs Royals preview and predictions along with a favorite player props bet

The New York Yankees (31-22) travel to Kauffman Stadium to open a series against the Kansas City Royals (22-31) Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 3:40 PM ET / 12:40 PM PT and the road squad are favored in the MLB odds.

The Bronx Bombers have dropped ten of their last 15 affairs, and the Royals have lost ten of 13, so both clubs will be looking to get back on a roll. The pitching matchup features Will Warren up against Michael Wacha. Keep reading for my prediction and analysis of this series that begins with a matinee.

Yankees vs Royals Picks & Predictions

• My Pick: Yankees Moneyline (-126 at DraftKings)

My analysis points heavily toward a Yankees victory in this series opener. They bring a clear statistical edge in run prevention, surrendering just 3.53 runs per game overall compared to the Royals’ 4.38 mark. The visitors also boast a reliable bullpen carrying a 3.51 ERA, while the Royals struggle late with an inflated 4.62 relief ERA.

Even though the Yankees’ offense cools down on the road, averaging a meager 3.93 runs and 7.37 hits per game, they still strike the ball with immense authority. They currently rank third in away average exit velocity at 89.6 mph.

I am backing the Bronx Bombers to win straight up. Their run-prevention advantages are simply too significant to ignore and they’ve won a whopping 14 of their last 16 vs the Royals in the regular season.

My Best Player Prop: Aaron Judge UNDER 1.5 Total Bases (-108 on DraftKings)

Moving over to the MLB Player Props, Aaron Judge broke out of a funk with a home run Sunday against the Rays for his first long fly in twelve contests. Before that, however, he’d fanned 14 times in his previous eleven outings, without picking up a single RBI.

He’s also struggled in his career against Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha, going 4-for-23 (.174 AVG), with zero home runs, no RBI, and just one extra base hit.

Yankees vs Royals Odds, Trends & Public Betting

Odds as of May 25 from Caesars Sportsbook. Click here for a Caesars Sportsbook promo code before betting on Yankees vs Royals.

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In the MLB public betting splits, 85% of tickets are on the Yankees to win straight up on the moneyline. As for the runline, a gaudy 92% of cash is on the Yankees to win by at least two runs. Finally, the total market sees 81% of wagers on under nine combined runs being scored.

How to Watch Yankees vs Royals

TV Network: ESPN (United States), Sportsnet (Canada)

Away Team: New York Yankees

Home Team: Kansas City Royals

Date: Monday, May 25, 2026

Game Time: 3:40 PM ET / 12:40 PM PT

Venue: Kauffman Stadium

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Yankees vs Royals Injury Report

Take a look at the MLB batter vs pitcher stats for additional information to glean on before wagering on the Yankees vs Royals this afternoon.