Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals – Prediction, 09/04/2024, MLB Tips, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals

Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Location: Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO

TV: Bally Sports Kansas City

The Kansas City Royals (75-64) will try to beat the Cleveland Guardians (79-59) on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium. Ben Lively and Seth Lugo will serve as pitchers.

The Guardians have hit 211 two-baggers as a team and have hit 160 balls out of the park. Cleveland has a slugging average of .397 and has been hit 1,003 times while walking 404 times. As a team, the Cleveland Guardians are batting 4.6 runs per game, which ranks 14th in baseball. They have 591 RBIs and 1,089 hits on the season while their batting average is .239. They have scored 628 runs and have a team OBP of .310.

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The Guardians have a team earned run average of 3.82 on the season (8th in MLB) and the team has struck out 1,188 batters. The Guardians’ pitchers have allowed a total of 164 home runs and 554 runs (6th in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 429 opposing hitters and their FIP as a team on the season is 4.15. Cleveland has allowed 1,062 base hits (7.8 per 9 innings) and 520 earned runs. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is 2.77 and their pitching staff has a WHIP of 1.22.

The Guardians have sent 505 relievers to the mound so far this season. The relievers have taken on 207 runners over the course of the season and 28.5% of them have crossed the plate. They have earned 46 saves on the season and wasted 15 of their 61 save opportunities. The Guardians’ bullpen has posted a 75.4% save rate and has stepped to the mound in 170 save situations. The relief pitchers have earned 107 holds on the season (1st in MLB). The Guardians’ bullpen pitchers have entered the game with runners on the field 147 times and have also had 182 appearances in high-pressure situations.

The Cleveland Guardians have recorded 3,672 putouts this season, in addition to 1,213 assists and 71 errors. Their fielding percentage is steady at .986, which ranks 13th in the major leagues, and they have 113 double plays. The Guardians have converted 71.0% of balls in play into outs in their 11,016 innings, which ranks 5th in the major leagues.

Lively (career record 19-25) has a FIP of 4.54 and has faced 1,449 batters in the Major Leagues. He has allowed 349 hits (9.2 hits per nine innings) and has had 106 walks. His earned run average is 4.61 (174 ERs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.339. Lively has pitched 340 innings and has 264 strikeouts so far in his professional baseball career.

Kansas City has hit 156 home runs and 647 runs batted in this season. They have 240 two-baggers, 362 walks and 665 runs scored. The Kansas City Royals have an OBP of .311 and a batting average of .254 this season. The Royals have a team SLG% of .419 and are scoring 4.78 runs per game (9th in MLB). They have been struck out 952 times (29th in MLB) and have 1,187 base hits.

The Royals have a team WHIP of 1.270 and a FIP of 3.88 as a pitching team on the season. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is 8.20 (1,116 strikeouts vs. 404 walks). They currently rank 21st in MLB with 1,147 hits allowed. They have allowed 131 home runs and allowed 4.23 runs per 9 innings (10th in MLB). Kansas City’s pitching staff has allowed 574 runs on the season and holds a 3.94 ERA (534 earned runs allowed).

Kansas City has had bullpen pitchers step to the mound in 55 save opportunities and make 34 saves. They currently rank 19th in the league with a 61.8% save rate and have sent 432 bullpen pitchers to the mound this season. Their relief pitchers have stepped to the mound 126 times in high-pressure situations, in addition to 112 opportunities with runners on base. Kansas City’s relief pitchers have a 28.6% point percentage of their 196 runners taken. With 122 save situations, the Royals have accumulated 65 holds and 21 blown saves.

The Kansas City Royals have turned 109 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .986 (10th in baseball). The Royals have made 1,232 assists and 70 errors and have totaled 3,664 putouts so far this season. In 10,992 innings on the field, the Royals have a defensive efficiency of 69.3% (20th in MLB).

During his professional baseball career, Lugo has allowed 735 base hits and has totaled 803 Ks in 820 innings pitched. Lugo (54-39 career win/loss) has a 3.41 earned run average and 8.1 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 311 ERs and holds a 1.161 WHIP and a 3.4 FIP. His K/BB ratio is 3.70 and he has faced 3,382 opposing batters during his career.

Who will win today’s MLB game against the spread or the moneyline?

Guy Bruhns tip: Take Kansas City

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