- The New York Yankees can take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five ALDS with the Kansas City Royals tonight
- KC is back to the top of its rotation with Cole Ragans on the mound facing New York’s Carlos Rodon
- See the Game 2 Royals vs Yankees odds, predictions, and player props to target on Oct. 7
After a thrilling 6-5 comeback victory in Game 1, the New York Yankees (94-68, 44-37 home) can put the Kansas City Royals (86-76, 41-40 away) on the brink of elimination tonight in Game 2 of their best-of-five American League Division Series.
From a hitting standpoint, the road gets more difficult for the Pinstripes as the Royals send Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA) to the mound in Game 2. Ragans was brilliant in KC’s 1-0 win over Baltimore in the opener of their Wild Card series, pitchings six shutout innings while allowing just four hits and fanning eight in his first taste of postseason baseball.
The Yankees are still sizable home favorites with veteran Carlos Rodon on the mound, though. First pitch is scheduled for 7:38 pm ET on Monday night at Yankee Stadium.
Royals vs Yankees Game 2 Odds
| Teams | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals | +125 | +1.5 (-175) | O 7.5 (-105) |
| New York Yankees | -150 | -1.5 (+145) | U 7.5 (-115) |
The Yankees are listed as -150 home favorites in Monday’s MLB odds with the Royals coming back as +125 road underdogs. On the runline, New York is +145 to win by multiple runs.
Odds as of Oct. 7 at ESPN Bet. Claim your ESPN Bet promo before betting on Royals vs Yankees tonight.
The game total is sitting at 7.5 with the under slightly favored at -115. Each of the first six games of the LDS round have gone over their totals.
The over is 6-0 in the ALDS and NLDS 👀
Tigers/Guardians Over 6.5 💰
Mets/Phillies Over 7 💰
Royals/Yankees Over 7.5 💰
Padres/Dodgers Over 8 💰
Mets/Phillies Over 8.5 💰
Padres/Dodgers Over 8.5 💰 pic.twitter.com/aIKTYrIb4x— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) October 7, 2024
One of those six overs was the Yankees’ 6-5 win in Game 1 of the series on Saturday, when they trailed 1-0, 3-2, and 5-4 before a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh gave New York a lead that would finally hold up.
While Juan Soto had three hits (all singles) in five at-bats, soon-to-be three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge was 0-for-4 with one walk and three strikeouts. His hitless night continued a concerning trend for the Yankee slugger, who has a .207 average and .758 OPS in 45 career playoff games, way below his regular season averages (.288 BA, 1.010 OPS).
New York’s Game 1 victory, coupled with the Dodgers’ Game 2 loss to the Padres last night, boosted the Yankees to the top of the World Series odds at +250.
KC vs New York Game 2 Pitching Matchup: Ragans vs Rodon
| Cole Ragans | vs | Carlos Rodon |
|---|---|---|
| 11-9 | Record | 16-9 |
| 3.14 | ERA | 3.96 |
| 3.27 | xERA | 4.14 |
| 1.14 | WHIP | 1.22 |
| 30.3% | K% | 26.5% |
Ragans has two career appearances against the Yankees. He pitched one inning of relief against New York last year, striking out two without issuing a hit or a walk.
In his first and so far only start against the Yankees (just under a month ago), he limited New York to two runs on three hits and three walks with seven Ks over 6.0 innings in a 4-3 extra-innings loss.
Altogether, the current Yankee lineup has only faced Ragans in 21 total at-bats, and their stats are as ugly as they come: .095 BA, .478 OPS with eight Ks and one home run (Juan Soto).
Rodon had a great start to the regular season, posting a 2.95 ERA in his first 11 starts. But that number had inflated to 4.31 by the end of August before a decent final month brought back under four.
Rodon made two starts against the Yankees this year with mostly positive results. He limited KC to one run on two this and two walks over 7.0 innings back in June, though he managed only three strikeouts.
In his more-recent start against the Royals (Sep. 9), Rodon allowed four runs on five hits and a walk over 6.0 innings, though only tw0 of the runs went down as earned and he fanned nine batters.
The Royals lineup has 101 total ABs against Rodon with a .228 average and .641 OPS with just four home runs. Salvador Perez has three of the dingers while Hunter Renfroe has the other.
Royals vs Yankees Game 2 Prediction
I faded Ragans and the Royals in Game 1 against Baltimore and was burned. I was massively impressed with the 26-year-old’s composure in his first postseason start against a very dangerous Baltimore lineup.
Factoring in his domination of the Yankee hitters, albeit in a small sample size, I love the value on KC to even the series.
Bettors can get the Royals’ moneyline at +130 at both DraftKingsand Caesars Sportsbook.
KC vs NYY Picks:
After a thrilling Game 1 that saw the Kansas City Royals come out on top against the New York Yankees, fans are eagerly anticipating Game 2 of the series. With both teams looking to secure a win, the stakes are high and the excitement is palpable. If you’re looking to get in on the action and place a bet on the game, here is a comprehensive betting guide to help you make informed decisions.
First and foremost, let’s take a look at the odds for Game 2 between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees. As of now, the Royals are slight underdogs with odds of +120, while the Yankees are favored to win with odds of -140. This means that if you bet $100 on the Royals and they win, you would make a profit of $120, while a $140 bet on the Yankees would yield a profit of $100.
When it comes to predictions for Game 2, it’s important to consider a few key factors. The Royals have been playing well recently, with solid pitching and timely hitting leading them to victory in Game 1. On the other hand, the Yankees have a strong lineup and will be looking to bounce back from their loss. Ultimately, this game could go either way, but it’s worth noting that the Royals have been performing well under pressure.
In addition to traditional bets on the outcome of the game, there are also a number of prop bets available for Game 2. Some popular prop bets include over/under on total runs scored, first team to score, and player-specific bets such as total hits or home runs. These prop bets can add an extra layer of excitement to the game and provide more opportunities to win big.
Overall, when placing bets on Game 2 between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees, it’s important to do your research and consider all factors before making a decision. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or new to sports betting, following this guide can help you make informed choices and increase your chances of coming out on top. Good luck and enjoy the game!
