Yankees vs. Royals Prediction and Odds for Friday, April 29th (How to Back New York vs. Kansas City)
By Reed Wallach
We have a pair of American League foes set to do battle at Kauffman Stadium on Friday night.
The New York Yankees travel to take the Kansas City Royals with their most impressive starting pitcher toeing the slab on Friday night in Nestor Cortes. He is 3-0 thus far with a 1.15 ERA while striking out north of 14 batters per 9 innings. He will face off against a struggling Royals offense that may not have the firepower to keep pace with Cortes and the Yanks.
With New York laying a big number on the moneyline, how should we handicap this matchup? Here are the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook:
Yankees vs. Royals Odds, Run Line, Total
Run Line:
- Yankees: -1.5 (-125)
- Royals: +1.5 (+105)
Moneyline:
- Yankees: -190
- Royals: +170
Total: 8.5 (Over -115/Under -105)
Yankees vs. Royals Prediction and Pick
I'm never interested in laying close to -200 on a favorite, so I will instead back Cortes, who is starting to build an AL Cy Young case through the first month of the season. He has a 1.15 ERA that is backed with a 1.28 FIP, meaning that he is earning his sterling metrics this season. He is punching out batters with ease and is set to face a Royals lineup that is bottom five in batting average this season.
My favorite look in this game will be the Royals team total under 3.5. If Cortes is able to limit any damage through the first 6 innings or so, he has only allowed 2 runs through 3 starts, the starter can pass it over to the Yankees fantastic bullpen to hold it down. The unit has the seventh best era in all of baseball, 2.90.
This is my way of riding the hot hand in Cortes against a weak offense.
LEAN: Royals Team Total UNDER 3.5 (-115)