Game 1 of the 2024 ALDS is set for Saturday evening as the New York Yankees host the Kansas City Royals. The Yankees came into the 2024 MLB playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the American League with an AL-best record of 94-68. On the other side, the Royals swept the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 in their Wild Card Series. Michael Wacha (13-8, 3.35 ERA) is on the hill for Kansas City. For the Yankees, Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA) gets the ball. Cole is 10-6 with a 2.93 ERA in 17 career MLB playoff starts. The Yankees are the +290 favorites to win the World Series, while the Royals have the longest odds at +1400.
First pitch is set for 6:38 p.m. ET. After opening at -190, the Yankees are now listed at -200 on the money line (risk $200 to win $100) for Game 1 in the latest Royals vs. Yankees odds via SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total runs scored is 7.5. Before making any Yankees vs. Royals picks, be sure to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. Entering the 2024 MLB playoffs, it's on a 32-17 roll on top-rated run-line picks (+822) that dates back to last season. Anybody following has seen strong returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Yankees vs. Royals and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Royals vs. Yankees:
- Yankees vs. Royals money line: New York -200, Kansas City +166
- Yankees vs. Royals run line: New York -1.5 (+108)
- Yankees vs. Royals over/under: 7.5 runs
- KC: Eight of last nine games have gone Under
- NYY: 5-2 vs. Kansas City this season
- Yankees vs. Royals picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Yankees vs. Royals streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why you should back the Yankees
Center fielder Aaron Judge was nearly unstoppable this season. Judge has light-tower power and the bat speed to make contact relentlessly. He had a .322 batting average with a staggering 58 home runs and 144 RBI. In addition, he's smashed 173 doubles and a 1.159 OPS. Judge belted a home run in five of his last six outings.
Right fielder Juan Soto is another athletic playmaker. Soto has an explosive bat with the pitch recognition skills to make contact constantly. As a defender in the outfielder, he has a rocket for an arm. This year, Soto hit .288 with 41 dingers and 109 RBI. The 25-year-old finished the regular season with a five-game hitting streak. See which team to pick here.
Why you should back the Royals
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is an all-around talent for the Royals. Witt Jr. has plus bat speed and feel at the plate. He also has terrific speed and has top-notch instincts defensively. The 24-year-old ranked first on the team in batting average (.332), home runs (32), RBI (109), OBP (.389) and hits (211). In his last outing, Witt Jr. went 2-of-5 with one RBI.
First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is a confident hitter at the dish. The 26-year-old hit .262 with 19 home runs and 97 RBI in 2024. In the Game 2 win over the Baltimore Orioles, he went 2-of-4 with a one-run driven in and one walk drawn. See which team to pick here.
How to make Royals vs. Yankees picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the run total, projecting 8.4 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the MLB model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Yankees vs. Royals, and which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that's on a 32-17 roll on top-rated MLB run-line picks, and find out.
