Posted on 4/22/2008 5:50:21 PM

MLB Betting – Royals Host Indians, Matchup of Struggling Clubs

By Eric Williams

The Kansas City Royals,(9-10, 5-14 O/U) have struggled since getting off to a solid 9-6 start, dropping four straight games in the BetUS Sportsbook coming into tonight’s matchup against the Cleveland Indians, (7-12, 10-9 O/U) to fall under .500 for the first time all season.

"We had started the road trip off pretty good and you don't envision going 2-5, but that's what happened," first-year manager Trey Hillman told the Royals' official Web site.

While much wasn’t expected of the Royals this season other than a minor improvement in their mediocre record from last season, big things were and are expected out of the Cleveland Indians and Cy Young award winning pitcher C.C. Sabathia, (0-3, 13.50) after their respectful dominant seasons.

Sabathia went 19-7 with a career-best 3.21 ERA en route to earning the 2007 AL Cy Young Award, but enters tonight’s matchup looking more like the pitcher who got rocked in the postseason than the one who dominated during the 2007 regular season as

Sabathia went a poor 1-2 with an astronomical 8.80 ERA in three postseason starts.

This season, Sabathia has been plagued by control issues, walking 14 batters in 18 innings.

The left-hander was rocked for nine runs on eight hits in four innings while walking five batters in Cleveland’s 13-2 home loss to the Detroit Tigers.

"I'm always my worst critic," said Sabathia, who hasn't made it out of the sixth inning this season. "It's frustrating that I've pitched four games and not even given my team a chance in any of them. That's unacceptable."

The Royals have managed to score just one run over the past two games but begin a six-game homestand with tonight’s contest.

Kansas City will start veteran right-hander Gil Meche (1-2, 6.08), who limited the Los Angeles Angels to two runs on six hits in six innings of work in his last outing, a 3-2 win on Wednesday.

Expected to be one of the best hitting teams in all of baseball this season, Cleveland is hitting an American League-low .235.

"We've got to figure this offense out," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We've got better players in there. We've got better hitters in there. There is no excuses. The guys that are spinning their wheels have to find a way to get going."

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my analysis and MLB Betting Free Picks:

The Indians are 7-1 in Sabathia’s last 8 road starts with the total set at 9.0-10.5.

The Indians are 6-1 in Sabathia’s last 7 starts vs. American League Central.

The Royals are 4-1 in Meche’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.

The Royals are 5-2 in Meche’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.

The Under is 4-0 in Sabathia’s last 4 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.

The Under is 4-0 in Meche’s last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.

The Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.

The Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Kansas City.

The Indians are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Kansas City.

Analysis: Sabathia and the Indians may be struggling in the worst way at the moment, but they will instantly get better facing a Royals team that is playing pretty good baseball under new manager Trey Hillman, who has gotten the team back to the basic timeless fundamentals of hitting, catching and throwing the baseball without a lot of fanfare. Take the Indians to touch up Meche and more likely – the Royals’ relievers - just enough to win this game for ‘C.C. Rider.’

MLB Free Picks: Indians 6 Royals 3

08:10 PM EST Baseball Odds

Cleveland Indians

C.C. Sabathia - L -1½ +135

Kansas City Royals

Gil Meche - R +1½ -155

Over 9 -105

Under 9 -115

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