The New York Yankees finish a four-game series in Kansas City on Thursday against the Royals, looking to extend their lead in the American League East and looking to build the confidence of starting pitcher Nestor Cortes.
New York Yankees (-155, 10.5) vs. Kansas City Royals
Cortes has had difficulties on the road this season with a 6.17 ERA with nearly 2.1 home runs per nine innings allowed compared to a 1.77 ERA with 0.8 home runs per nine innings. However, he has yet to allow more than four runs in a start this season and is backed up by one of the league’s best bullpens.
The Yankees entered Wednesday third in the league in bullpen ERA at 3.06 and while they are tasked with shutting down a Royals lineup that leads the league in runs scoring at home with over 5.4 runs per game entering Wednesday, the Royals lineup appears due for a fall off.
Entering Wednesday, the Royals were just 6th in the league in home runs and 10th in on-base percentage while their home and road batting average split should begin to even out with the Royals’ posting a .270 home batting average compared to a .231 road batting average.
On the mound to start for the Royals is Alec Marsh, who has an ERA and fielding independent that are nearly identical with a 4.05 ERA and 4.02 fielding independent with 2.6 walks and 1.2 home runs per nine innings allowed.
Marsh has to try to shut down a Yankees lineup that is second in the league in home runs and entered Wednesday fourth in road scoring with 5.2 runs per game, but Marsh enters having allowed less than 0.9 home runs per nine innings at home.
With Marsh’s ability to keep the ball in the yard at home coupled with the Royals being due for some regression at home with their offense, Thursday’s game will have better pitching than many might expect.
The Play: Yankees vs. Royals Under 10.5
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