Cleveland (51-51) vs Kansas City (50-53)
July 25, 2025 at 08:10 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Kansas City -105 — Over/Under: +8.5
The Cleveland Guardians and the Kansas City Royals meet Friday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Cleveland Guardians will send out Gavin Williams for the start here and Williams is 6-4 with a 3.54 ERA and 106 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Royals, Williams is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 26 strikeouts. Michael Wacha will get the nod for the Royals here and is 4-9 with a 3.62 ERA and 85 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Guardians, Wacha is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 23 strikeouts.
Cleveland Guardians Recap
The Cleveland Guardians come into this game looking to rebound from their 4-3 loss at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles last time out to sit at 51-51 on the year. After this game, the Guardians will head home for a series against the Colorado Rockies.
Guardians Have Four-Game Win Streak Snapped
Steven Kwan has 108 hits as part of a .287 batting average and 8 home runs, 20 doubles and 35 RBIs. Kyle Manzardo has 63 hits with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 16 home runs and 42 RBIs as well this year. Gabriel Arias has 17 doubles but also 88 strikeouts and Manzardo has 80 strikeouts so far this season. Arias has also added 6 home runs and 31 RBIs and Jose Ramirez has chipped in 21 home runs and 56 RBIs with 31 stolen bases as well. Carlos Santana has also added 75 hits with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs as well this season.
Why the Cleveland Guardians will win
- The Royals have lost each of their last 10 home games against American League opponents.
- The Guardians have won each of their last four games as underdogs.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games as home favorites against American League opponents.
- The Guardians have covered the run line in each of their last seven games as road underdogs after playing the previous day.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
- Jose Ramirez has hit a home run in four of the Guardians’ last five games as road underdogs against AL opponents.
- Lane Thomas has recorded at least one hit in each of his 12 previous road appearances against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Jose Ramirez ranks T3rd in the league in Steals (31) this season.
Kansas City Royals Recap
The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to build on their win over the Chicago Cubs last time out to sit at 50-53 on the year thanks to the 8-4 victory. After this series, the Royals will welcome the Atlanta Braves to town.
Royals Looking To Climb Back To .500
Bobby Witt Jr. has 116 hits with 33 doubles and 27 stolen bases along with 3 triples, 14 home runs and 56 RBIs while Vinnie Pasquantino has 105 hits with 15 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 61 RBIs. Maikel Garcia’s added 109 hits with 26 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs and 41 RBIs and 18 stolen bases and Salvador Perez also has 18 home runs and 62 RBIs but also has 77 strikeouts so far this season.
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The favorites have won each of the Royals’ last seven games at Kauffman Stadium.
- The Guardians have lost each of their last five games at Kauffman Stadium against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight night games against AL Central opponents following a home loss.
- The Royals have covered the run line in each of their last four night games against the Guardians at Kauffman Stadium following a win.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Salvador Perez has hit at least one home run in four of the Royals’ last five games.
- Michael Wacha has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last seven home appearances.
- Salvador Perez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 14 appearances after not playing the previous day.
- Adam Frazier has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances with his team as a favorite.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranks 4th in the league in Hits (116) this season.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Royals’ last five home games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Five of the Guardians’ last six night games against American League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction
I’m on the Guardians here. I just think that the Guardians are the team in better form right now, and the Royals, I’m just not a fan of Michael Wacha personally. Cleveland has started the climb out of the hole they dug themselves into earlier this month and this is still a very disciplined team that draws out at-bats and makes pitchers work for their outs. Michael Wacha just hasn’t been as sharp and the Royals haven’t been as consistent offensively to back him up, so I’ll roll with Cleveland here.