posted May 30, 2008 at 19:04 EST in MLB Betting Trends
Wager On MLB Baseball – Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals
by Eric Williams
While the Cleveland Indians, (24-29, 24-29 RL) are playing a pretty horrific brand of baseball at the moment, having lost three of four and ten of their last twelve overall, their struggles are nothing like those of the Kansas City Royals, (21-32, 23-30 RL), losers of 11 straight games in the BetUS Sportsbook.
While the Indians finished their three-game set with the Chicago White Sox with a 6-5 loss on Thursday, the Royals recorded their latest loss by getting pounded by the Minnesota Twins in their 5-1 loss that I predicted in the BetUS Locker Room the same day.
Now, the Royals come into tonight’s showdown looking to get their first victory in their first victory since May 18 by facing one of the best pitchers in all of baseball this season in Cleveland Indians left-handed hurler Cliff Lee, (7-1, 1.50 ERA).
Lee, can move into a three-way tie for the AL lead in wins tonight and is coming of another powerful performance in his last start as he limited the Texas Rangers to two runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings on Saturday.
Mired in the longest losing streak in the majors this season, the Royals have scored two runs or less in seven of the losses.
"It's no fun going out there and losing every day," Royals center fielder David DeJesus said. "I didn't think this was going to happen. We have too good of players on our team right now. But it's happening."
While Cleveland’s Lee can move into a tie for the AL lead in wins, Royals’ high-priced mediocre veteran right-hander Gil Meche (3-7, 5.35 ERA) will try to avoid becoming baseball’s biggest loser, tying San Francisco Giants’ lefty Barry Zito.
Meche however, has been victimized by a lack of run support as he has allowed just two runs in each of his last two starts but getting a total of just two runs of support in those outings.
Meche limited the Toronto Blue Jays to two runs on five hits in six innings on Sunday, though the Royals lost 3-1.
"Until we start making adjustments, (opposing teams) are going to keep sticking it to us," he said. "It's up to them to get it done. There can be no excuses."
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my MLB Betting Free Picks:
The Indians are 4-1 in Lee’s last five road starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
The Indians are 4-1 in Lee’s last five road starts.
The Royals are 2-5 in Meche’s last seven home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
The Royals are 7-19 in Meche’s last 26 starts with four days of rest.
The Under is 4-1 in Lee’s last five road starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
The Under is 4-0 in Meche’s last four starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
The Indians are 4-0 in the last four meetings in Kansas City.
The Under is 8-2 in the last ten meetings.
Analysis: This pick is an absolute ‘no-brainer’ with Cleveland’s Cliff Lee on the mound. Though both teams are struggling immensely, Lee certainly is not – and will lead the Indians to victory tonight.
MLB Free Picks: Indians 4 Royals 1
08:10 PM EST MLB Lines
Cliff Lee - L -1½ +105
Gil Meche - R +1½ -125
Over 8 -110
Under 8 -110
American League
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