1 – Bieber
Shane Bieber will toe it up on Sunday and is hoping to get his first victory since his June 11th over Houston. Bieber did well last time against KC throwing a two-hitter over six innings.
Josh Naylor is having a fantastic series for the Guards, coming into Sunday he is 7 for 13 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs.
Amed Rosario is enjoying the month of July altogether. In the month of July, he is batting .351 with a home run and twelve RBIs.
Sunday kicks off the MLB Draft and Cleveland has three picks in the first two rounds (23, 58, 62). The first round of the draft can be seen on ESPN 7p EST.
On Sunday, Shane Bieber will be given the opportunity to start for the Guardians. However, in his most recent performance against the Braves, Bieber did not perform at his best, allowing four runs and walking five batters in 4.2 innings. Despite his struggles, he managed to avoid a decision in a game that the Guardians ultimately lost. Lately, the experienced ace has encountered some difficulties, struggling in three out of his last four outings. Nonetheless, he has maintained a solid 3.66 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, accompanied by a 5-5 record in 110.2 innings pitched. Throughout his career, Bieber has been dominant against the Royals, boasting a 2.80 ERA and an undefeated 6-0 record in 80.1 innings against them.
Before facing the Braves and suffering two losses in three home games, Cleveland had won two consecutive series. Unfortunately, they were unable to contain the Braves, who scored a total of 17 runs in the series. The Guardians have achieved a 6-4 record in their last ten games and currently sit only half a game behind the top spot in the AL Central division.
Amed Rosario has been the most productive batter in the Guardians lineup, accumulating an impressive 11 RBIs this month. Prior to this outstanding stretch, the 27-year-old shortstop had been having a disappointing season, with 33 RBIs and a below-average .668 OPS overall. Against the Royals, Rosario has a record of 4 hits in 21 at-bats, with one RBI.
In terms of offensive performance, Cleveland has averaged 4.02 runs per game this season, ranking them 27th in the league. However, their pitching has been a strong suit, as the team has recorded a respectable 3.78 ERA, placing them fifth overall.
In this upcoming game, the Royals will have Ryan Yarbrough back on the mound after his return from the IL. Despite a rough season, Yarbrough showed promise in his latest outing against the A’s, allowing only one run in 5.1 innings. With a 6.15 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP this season, the veteran southpaw aims to contain the Guardians, having recorded a 1.86 ERA in 19.1 career innings against them. However, the Royals’ bullpen has struggled, with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP overall.
The Royals, concluding a road trip, recently experienced a mixed performance, securing a notable series win against the Dodgers but being swept by Minnesota, conceding 22 runs in the process. They enter the game on a six-game road losing streak and hold a 3-7 record in their last ten matchups. Offensively, they have been slumping, managing only one run in their last three games.
Despite the team’s struggles, Bobby Witt Jr. has been a standout player, tallying seven RBIs in his last seven games. The 23-year-old shortstop boasts 13 homers, 45 RBIs, and a .718 OPS, making him the Royals’ top performer. However, Witt Jr. has struggled against the Guardians this season, going 3 for 19 with zero RBIs.
The Royals’ offensive struggles are reflected in their average of 3.67 runs per game, ranking them 29th in the league. Additionally, their pitching staff has struggled, holding a 5.26 team ERA, placing them 28th.
The Kansas City Royals are currently facing a series of challenges, having suffered a five-game losing streak leading up to Saturday’s game. This includes two losses in the opening matches of their current series. Ryan Yarbrough, the Royals’ starting pitcher, is making his first appearance since May, but he has struggled to find his rhythm, evident in his high 6.15 ERA. On the other hand, the Cleveland Guardians have been performing well, winning two out of their last three series.
Adding to the Guardians’ advantage is their starting pitcher, Shane Bieber, who is expected to dominate in this upcoming game. Bieber recently delivered an impressive performance against the Royals, throwing six shutout innings in late June. Throughout his career, he has consistently silenced his rivals, boasting a remarkable 2.80 ERA and an undefeated 6-0 record against them. Additionally, Bieber has maintained a solid 3.02 ERA when pitching at home.
Our Pick: Take Guardians -1.5 Runs
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