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Kansas City Royals (19-17) vs New York Yankees (20-14)
Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 7:05 PM EST on MLB Network
Spread: Yankees -1.5
Money Line: Yankees -187 / Royals +177
Over/Under: 9.5
Pitching Probables: Sean O’Sullivan vs Ivan Nova
The Kansas City Royals won in extra frames last night to even the series at one game a piece heading into tonight. Last night was just another indication that this is not your same old Royals team. They finally seem to be playing to win and are doing so, mainly with prospects from their system that are showing they are more than just potential. The weak link on this team is still the pitching staff. Only one of their primary starters has an ERA under 4.00 with today’s starter Sean O’Sullivan proving to be an effective option since joining that group a couple of weeks into the season. Why he wasn’t in the rotation at the the beginning of the year is a bit of a mystery but since being moved he has yet to give up more than 3 runs in any start. The only problem is that he does not work deep into games, which is concerning tonight given the extensive work the bullpen had last night.
The New York Yankees spoiled a very effective outing by AJ Burnett last night losing to the Royals. It was an unexpected result as the Royals bullpen out-pitched the Yankees group, considered by many among the best in baseball. Shortstop Derek Jeter continues to struggle (he went 0 for 6 last night) but Curtis Granderson continues his hot power hitting. He has only 34 hits but 12 have left the yard this season. He is one of the big reasons the Yankees are first in homers and second in the majors in runs scored. Starter Ivan Nova has also been pretty dependable at the back end of the Yankees rotation. His numbers aren’t fantastic but he keeps his team in the game giving the bats a chance to slug their way to victory, a likely scenario for tonight.
The odds makers have the New York Yankees as a -1.5 point favorite with an run total of 9.5.
Check out the latest MLB Baseball Odds here.
Prediction: Yankees win a high scoring affair that goes back and forth that further tests the bullpen depth of both teams. With Nova on the hill you get better value with the Yanks than normal.
Score Prediction: New York – 9 / Kansas City – 6
Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top handicappers.
New York Yankees Betting Trends:
- NY Yankees are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees’s last 5 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Yankees’s last 6 games when playing Kansas City
- NY Yankees are 12-6 SU in their last 18 games when playing Kansas City
Kansas City Royals Betting Trends:
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas City’s last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kansas City’s last 6 games on the road
- Kansas City is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas City’s last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
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