Predictions, Picks & Props for Game 1 of Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees

• The Kansas City Royals clash with the New York Yankees in the ALDS
• The Yankees are 3-12 against the spread in their last 12 home games
• Check out all the Royals vs Yankees odds & predictions, below

Kansas City battles the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday, October 5. Kansas City defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card round of the MLB playoffs earlier this week, while the Yankees have remained idle after finishing with the best record in the American League this season. This Royals vs Yankees matchup gets underway from Yankee Stadium at 6:30 p.m. ET. Dive in to the latest Royals vs Yankees odds and our best bets, below.

Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Odds

The Yankees are priced at -205 on the moneyline with the Royals at +172. New York is +104 on the runline to win by multiple runs, while the over/under is sitting at 7.5 (O-122/U+100).

Odds as of October 4  at FanDuel Sportsbook. Check out the best betting apps for Royals vs Yankees. 

The latest World Series odds have the Yankees as +290 favorites heading into their ALDS series with the Royals, so it’s no surprise to see the Bronze bombers favored to take Game 1.On the flip side, Kansas City is a World Series longshot and sit at the bottom of the odds board at +1400. The Royals enter this series having defeated the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 in the Wild Card round after scoring just three total runs. While the Yankees lost four of their last six regular season games.

Starting Pitcher Matchup: Wacha vs Cole

Michael Wacha finished the regular season 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA in 29 starts. He logged over 166 total innings, while registering a career-low 32.5% hard hit percentage. It’s important to note, Wacha has faced the Yankees lineup in a total of 137 at bats throughout his career, allowing 33 hits (.241 average) with four home runs. He’s struck out the Yankees superstar lineup a total of 29 times, and given up just a .302 on-base percentage.

#Yankees vs. Michael Wacha (KC’s Game 1 starter for ALDS):

Aaron Judge: .056 (1-for-18), 11 K
Gleyber Torres: .063 (1-for-16)
Giancarlo Stanton: .235 (4-for-17), 1 HR
Alex Verdugo: .273 (3-for-11)
Anthony Rizzo: .393 (22-for-56), 3 HR

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) October 3, 2024

On the other side, Gerrit Cole has gone 8-5 since returning from injury in early June. The former Cy Young award winner has been fairly consistent this season, with his patented four seam fastball doing much of the damage. However, he registered one of the lowest strike out percentages (25.4%) of his career. Pair that with his high walk-percentage (7.4%), and Cole’s been merely human in 2024. He’s faced the Royals lineup in 145 at-bats throughout his career, giving up 32 hits and three home runs with 48 strikeouts.

Royals vs Yankees Predictions & Prop Bets for Game 1

While Cole has been a lesser version of his superstar self in 2024, bet on him to bounce back in the postseason. After all, the Yankees ace has been fantastic in October throughout his career, sporting a 10-6 record with a 2.93 ERA. Crucially, he’s averaged 11.56 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s also allowed more than his player prop of 4.5 hits in just one of his past five games. Bet Cole to keep the Royals in check on Saturday night.

Keep an eye on the latest MLB betting trends before placing your MLB playoff bets. The Yankees are just 3-9 against the spread in their last 12 games at home. Additionally, Michael Wacha is no slouch and has the stuff to keep the Yanks star-studded lineup in check. Bet on a low scoring game in Game 1.

Royals vs Yankees Game 1 Picks:

• Gerrit Cole under 4.5 hits allowed (+100)
• Under 7.5 total runs (+100)

The highly anticipated matchup between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees in Game 1 of their series is sure to be a thrilling game for baseball fans. Both teams have had strong starts to the season, with the Royals currently sitting at the top of the AL Central and the Yankees not far behind in the AL East.

In terms of predictions for this game, it’s expected to be a close contest between two evenly matched teams. The Royals have been playing well offensively, with standout performances from players like Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield. On the other hand, the Yankees have a powerful lineup led by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Pitching will also be a key factor in this game, with the Royals likely to start Brad Keller on the mound and the Yankees countering with Gerrit Cole. Both pitchers have been solid so far this season, so it could come down to which bullpen can hold up under pressure.

As for picks, it’s always tough to predict the outcome of a single baseball game, but based on recent performances and matchups, the Yankees may have a slight edge in this game. Their lineup has the potential to put up big numbers against Keller, while Cole has the ability to shut down the Royals’ offense.

In terms of props, there are several interesting bets to consider for this game. One prop bet to watch is the over/under on total runs scored, as both teams have shown the ability to put up runs in bunches. Another prop bet to consider is the first team to score, as getting an early lead could be crucial in a close game like this.

Overall, Game 1 of the Royals vs Yankees series is shaping up to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. With strong pitching, powerful lineups, and plenty of prop bets to consider, this game is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats until the final out.