Introduction

Get ready for a classic American League clash as the Cleveland Guardians duel with the Kansas City Royals. Both teams bring their own unique strengths to the field, setting the stage for some high-stakes baseball action.

Game Time

First pitch will be thrown at Saturday, July 26 at 07:15 PM ET at a stadium catering towards contact hitters rather than sluggers.

Moneyline Odds

Cleveland Guardians: +105
Kansas City Royals: -125
Over/Under Line: 8.5

Latest Team Records

The Cleveland Guardians are standing at a perfectly even record of 51-51, while the Kansas City Royals are slightly lagging behind with a record of 50-53.

Injury Report

Key injuries for the Cleveland Guardians include:

• Paul Sewald (Shoulder) – Status: 15-Day-IL. Cleveland placed Sewald on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a right shoulder strain.
• Will Brennan (Elbow) – Status: 60-Day-IL. Brennan (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list by Cleveland on Friday.

The Kansas City Royals, on the other hand, enter the game healthy with no notable injuries.

Key Player Stats

Cleveland Guardians

• Jose Ramirez: 0.297 AVG, 21 HR, 56 RBI
• Steven Kwan: 0.287 AVG, 8 HR, 35 RBI
• Angel Martinez: 0.253 AVG, 9 HR, 38 RBI

Kansas City Royals

• Bobby Witt Jr.: 0.288 AVG, 14 HR, 56 RBI
• Vinnie Pasquantino: 0.269 AVG, 17 HR, 61 RBI
• Salvador Perez: 0.255 AVG, 18 HR, 62 RBI

Team Analysis

Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians come into this match-up off the back of a strong run, holding a 4-1 record in their last 5 games. Their reputable away record, standing at a solid 26-26, promises a battle-hardened performance on the road. Players like Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan, as noted in the Key Player Stats, will be vital in driving the offensive charge for the visiting team.

But it’s not just about the individuals, the team’s collective scoring power has been on full display in recent games, consistently pushing their runs per game above the league average. This offensive potential could serve them well against the Royals and should certainly keep the home team’s defense on their toes.

• Batting Average: 0.224
• Total Runs Scored: 393
• Home Runs: 108
• OPS: 0.67
• ERA: 3.92
• WHIP: 1.32

Away Record: 26-26 • Home Record: 25-26
Last 5 Games: 4-1 (6.0 RPG) • Last 10 Games: 7-3 (5.6 RPG)

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Kansas City Royals

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals have been finding a steady rhythm at home with a 3-2 record in their last five outings. With players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino consistently delivering on the offense, and no major health concerns hampering their performance, the Royals could be poised to challenge their visitors strongly.

However, they’ll need to guard against complacency. The Cleveland Guardians have shown their mettle on the road, consistently putting up a fight and disrupting the home advantage of many teams. The Royals will have to tap into their home-field advantage and scoring prowess to maintain dominance.

• Batting Average: 0.245
• Total Runs Scored: 363
• Home Runs: 85
• OPS: 0.679
• ERA: 3.5
• WHIP: 1.22

Away Record: 24-26 • Home Record: 26-27
Last 5 Games: 3-2 (5.6 RPG) • Last 10 Games: 5-5 (4.6 RPG)

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Head-to-Head History

Cleveland Guardians lead 3–2 (Last 5 games)

• 2025-04-13: KC 4 @ CLE 2
• 2025-04-12: KC 3 @ CLE 6
• 2025-04-11: KC 0 @ CLE 7
• 2025-03-30: CLE 6 @ KC 2
• 2025-03-29: CLE 3 @ KC 4

Over/Under Trends

Cleveland Guardians’ last 10 games have averaged 9.8 total runs per game, with 7 of those going over the posted total of 8.5.

Kansas City Royals’ last 10 games have seen an average of 9.1 combined runs, with 5 games clearing the same line of 8.5.

Moneyline Betting Prediction

The Kansas City Royals are set for a prosperous evening considering the solid form of their key players coupled with the team’s overall scoring consistency. Given the Royals’ recent performances at home, the momentum seems to favor the hosting team. The Royals’ offense, backed by the prowess of Bobby Witt Jr., is intent on capitalizing in this crucial game. Hence, the Kansas City Royals are all set to deliver a compelling performance.

For these reasons, the Kansas City Royals are positioned to justify their favorite status.

Over/Under Prediction

The Kansas City Royals are scoring 5.6 runs per game across their last five, and the Cleveland Guardians are at 6.0. Recent form suggests where this total might land.

These teams are combining for 11.6 runs per game recently — above the posted total of 8.5, a crucial pivot point in betting markets. Given their shared appetite for high-scoring affairs, we anticipate the combined totals to go Over 8.5.

Bookmakers

Lines retrieved from: FanDuel, Caesars, MyBookie.ag, Fanatics.

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