• The New York Yankees can take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five ALDS with the Kansas City Royals tonight
• KC is back to the top of its rotation with Cole Ragans on the mound facing New York’s Carlos Rodon
• See the Game 2 Royals vs Yankees odds, predictions, and player props to target on Oct. 7

After a thrilling 6-5 comeback victory in Game 1, the New York Yankees (94-68, 44-37 home) can put the Kansas City Royals (86-76, 41-40 away) on the brink of elimination tonight in Game 2 of their best-of-five American League Division Series.

From a hitting standpoint, the road gets more difficult for the Pinstripes as the Royals send Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA) to the mound in Game 2. Ragans was brilliant in KC’s 1-0 win over Baltimore in the opener of their Wild Card series, pitchings six shutout innings while allowing just four hits and fanning eight in his first taste of postseason baseball.

The Yankees are still sizable home favorites with veteran Carlos Rodon on the mound, though. First pitch is scheduled for 7:38 pm ET on Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

Royals vs Yankees Game 2 Odds

The Yankees are listed as -150 home favorites in Monday’s MLB odds with the Royals coming back as +125 road underdogs. On the runline, New York is +145 to win by multiple runs.

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Odds as of Oct. 7 at ESPN Bet. Claim your ESPN Bet promo before betting on Royals vs Yankees tonight. 

The game total is sitting at 7.5 with the under slightly favored at -115. Each of the first six games of the LDS round have gone over their totals.

The over is 6-0 in the ALDS and NLDS

Tigers/Guardians Over 6.5
Mets/Phillies Over 7
Royals/Yankees Over 7.5
Padres/Dodgers Over 8
Mets/Phillies Over 8.5
Padres/Dodgers Over 8.5 pic.twitter.com/aIKTYrIb4x

— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) October 7, 2024

One of those six overs was the Yankees’ 6-5 win in Game 1 of the series on Saturday, when they trailed 1-0, 3-2, and 5-4 before a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh gave New York a lead that would finally hold up.

While Juan Soto had three hits (all singles) in five at-bats, soon-to-be three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge was 0-for-4 with one walk and three strikeouts. His hitless night continued a concerning trend for the Yankee slugger, who has a .207 average and .758 OPS in 45 career playoff games, way below his regular season averages (.288 BA, 1.010 OPS).

New York’s Game 1 victory, coupled with the Dodgers’ Game 2 loss to the Padres last night, boosted the Yankees to the top of the World Series odds at +250.

KC vs New York Game 2 Pitching Matchup: Ragans vs Rodon

Ragans has two career appearances against the Yankees. He pitched one inning of relief against New York last year, striking out two without issuing a hit or a walk.

In his first and so far only start against the Yankees (just under a month ago), he limited New York to two runs on three hits and three walks with seven Ks over 6.0 innings in a 4-3 extra-innings loss.

Altogether, the current Yankee lineup has only faced Ragans in 21 total at-bats, and their stats are as ugly as they come: .095 BA, .478 OPS with eight Ks and one home run (Juan Soto).

Rodon had a great start to the regular season, posting a 2.95 ERA in his first 11 starts. But that number had inflated to 4.31 by the end of August before a decent final month brought back under four.

Rodon made two starts against the Yankees this year with mostly positive results. He limited KC to one run on two this and two walks over 7.0 innings back in June, though he managed only three strikeouts.

In his more-recent start against the Royals (Sep. 9), Rodon allowed four runs on five hits and a walk over 6.0 innings, though only tw0 of the runs went down as earned and he fanned nine batters.

The Royals lineup has 101 total ABs against Rodon with a .228 average and .641 OPS with just four home runs. Salvador Perez has three of the dingers while Hunter Renfroe has the other.

Royals vs Yankees Game 2 Prediction

I faded Ragans and the Royals in Game 1 against Baltimore and was burned. I was massively impressed with the 26-year-old’s composure in his first postseason start against a very dangerous Baltimore lineup.

Factoring in his domination of the Yankee hitters, albeit in a small sample size, I love the value on KC to even the series.

Bettors can get the Royals’ moneyline at +130 at both DraftKingsand Caesars Sportsbook.

KC vs NYY Picks:

• Royals moneyline (+125) at DraftKings
• Salvador Perez over 0.5 RBI (+143) at Caesars Sportsbook
• Cole Ragans over 5.5 Ks (-146) at FanDuel

The post Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Odds, Predictions & Props to Target (Game 2) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.