Game 2 of the ALDS is getting underway in the Bronx on Tuesday evening as the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees square off. The Yankees were able to win Game 1 of this best-of-five series on Saturday 6-5 and the five lead changes was a playoff record.
The Royals are going to send young lefty Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA in 2024) to the mound while the Yankees are countering with veteran southpaw Carlos Rodon (16-9, 3.96 ERA in 2024) in this game. Can the Kansas City Royals split the first two games before heading to Kauffman Stadium or can the New York Yankees take full control of the series with a win here?
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Kansas City Royals | +1.5 (-160) | Over 7.5 (-115) | +130 |
| New York Yankees | -1.5 (+125) | Under 7.5 (-105) | -150 |
| **Odds Subject to Change** | |||
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees Match Details
- Fixture: Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees
- Date and Time: Tuesday, October 7 at 7:38 pm ET
- Location: Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY
Key Stats
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals were able to keep Game 1 of the ALDS close but ultimately lost 6-5 on the road to the New York Yankees. The lineup was able to do well as they finished 9-of-35 with three walks and seven strikeouts. MJ Melendez was able to hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to regain the lead. Kansas City went 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. Michael Wacha pitched decently as he went four innings and gave up three runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in a no-decision.
Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA in 2024) will be pitching this game for the Kansas City Royals and has done well in his young career. He had a career-high 15 home runs allowed but it is not concerning when seeing he pitched 186.1 innings of work. Ragans was stellar in the AL Wild Card Series against the Baltimore Orioles as he won by throwing six shutout innings, giving up just four hits with zero walks and eight strikeouts.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees were able to start the ALDS on the right foot as they won 6-5. The batting order went 9-for-33 in the game with eight walks and 11 strikeouts. Gleyber Torres hit a two-run home run in the third inning to give the Bronx Bombers a lead while Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole a base. The Yankees did not hit well with runners in scoring position as they were just 2-for-13 in those at-bats. Gerrit Cole labored as he went five innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts while not factoring into the decision.
Southpaw Carlos Rodon (16-9, 3.96 ERA in 2024) will take the ball for the New York Yankees and he really stepped up this season on the bump. He had a great walk-to-strikeout ratio of 57:195 this year and hitters had a .235 batting average against him in the regular season. Rodon has faced the Royals twice this season and went 1-0 in 13.0 innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on 10 hits with one hit by pitch, one walk, and 12 strikeouts.
Prediction
When looking at how the Yankees played against left-handed pitchers, they have been awful. However, they are 8-3 in their last 11 games against southpaws. The Yankees could not hit well with runners in scoring position and still recorded six runs so they should hit better. The one thing they do is control the strike zone and force pitchers to throw strikes, as evident by their two bases-loaded walks in Game 1.
Expect the Yankees bullpen to set things up for them to hold onto a lead and expect the New York Yankees to win by multiple runs.
Final Pick
New York Yankees -1.5 (+125)
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