Game 2 of the American League Divisional Series kicks off with a battle between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees.

The Yankees took Game 1 of the series, winning 6-5 after having to come back twice on the Royals.

Both starting pitchers in Game 1 struggled with Michael Wacha of the Royals allowing three runs over four innings and Gerrit Cole of the Yankees allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings.

Before making our Royals vs. Yankees predictions for Game 2, let us take a look at the top stories and matchups.

 

 

 

Kansas City Royals: Can Royals Pitching Shut Down Yankees?

We asked this question ahead of Game 1 and the answer was no. Michael Wacha only lasted four innings as he allowed three earned runs over 70 pitches. We then saw three different relievers come into the game and allow an earned run to the Yankees which helped allow the Yankees to continue to take leads and come back to eventually win the ball game.

So, for Game 2, can the Royals pitching shut down the Yankees? Southpaw Cole Ragans takes the mound and that is certainly a good step forward as Ragans was the Royals top starting pitcher this season and we saw him toss six shutout innings during the Wild Card round, only leaving that game due to cramps.

If he can keep the Yankees lineup in check, there is a good chance for the Royals offense to continue to string together runs and take a lead.

 

 

 

New York Yankees: Which Carlos Rodon Shows Up?

It was quite the roller coaster season for Rodon who finished the year going 16-9 with a 3.96 ERA. He was elite in the strikeout department, registering 195 over 175 innings.

The issue for Rodon was consistency. In June he had an ERA of 7.76 over six starts. He then had ERAs over 4.00 for July and August before being lights out in September, posting a 2.20 ERA.

He pitched against the Royals twice, allowing five runs (three earned), over 13.0 innings while striking out 12.

If the September version of Rodon shows up today, the Royals hitters are going to be in trouble.

 

 

 

Royals vs. Yankees Starting Pitcher & Lineup

Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals

Ragans was the Royals best pitcher this season, going 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 223 strikeouts over 186.1 innings. 

He faced the Yankees once this season, going six innings while allowing two earned runs and striking out seven.

This will be a tough test given the power in the Yankees lineup, but Ragans has the swing and miss ability to hold this lineup in check.

Carlos Rodon, New York Yankees

Carlos Rodon's season was a true roller coaster, ending with a 16-9 record and a 3.96 ERA. He excelled in strikeouts, tallying 195 over 175 innings, showcasing his ability to dominate opposing lineups.

However, consistency was a challenge. Rodon's struggles peaked in June, where he posted a 7.76 ERA over six starts. His July and August didn’t fare much better, with ERAs above 4.00 in both months. But then came September, where he found his groove and finished the month with a stellar 2.20 ERA.

Against the Royals, Rodon faced them twice, allowing five runs (three earned) across 13 innings, with 12 strikeouts. If he brings that September form to the mound today, the Royals’ hitters could be in for a tough game.

 

 

Royals vs. Yankees Predictions For AL Divisional Round Game 2

So, how do we see Game 2 going? Looking at the pitching matchups I think we can agree that each team throwing a power lefty has the ability to shut down the opposing lineup.

Both bullpens had to take on some extra work in Game 1 due to the starting pitchers failing to go beyond four and five innings respectively.

The Yankees lineup is the most potent given the power, but we saw how scrappy the Royals offense can be.

The total for this game is set at 7.5 which seems high given the caliber of starting pitchers on the mound but if that many runs are to be scored then it's likely both pitchers are in for shorter outings.

Before making our Royals vs. Yankees predictions, let's examine the odds and betting lines.

 

 

 

Royals vs. Yankees Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

We’re about to break down our Royals vs. Yankees predictions, but first, here are the current Royals vs. Yankees odds, spreads, totals and betting lines from DraftKings Sportsbook:

Run Line

  • Royals +1.5 (-170)
  • Yankees -1.5 (+142)

Money Line

  • Royals: +124
  • Yankees: -148

Total

  • 7.5 (Over -102/Under -118)

 

 

 

Royals vs. Yankees: Game Total Under 7.5 Runs (-118 on DraftKings)

I'm betting on the starting pitching here. Both Ragans and Rodon are big strikeout pitchers, and both are heading into the playoffs in prime form.

We saw Ragans toss six shutout innings against the Orioles in the Wild Card round and Rodon pisted a near 2.00 ERA during the month of September.

Both starters have also had success against the lineup they will be facing tonight.

Yes, we got 11 runs in Game 1, but I'm expecting a closer game here today.

 

 

 

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