Yankees vs. Royals: ALDS game 2 predictions, odds and picks — Oct 7, MLB 2024

On Monday night, the Royals will play the Yankees in the Bronx for the second game of the ALDS. The game will be the final series in New York before the series returns to KC. If necessary, Game 5 will come back to the Bronx.

In the first game of the series, Gerrit Cole spun five innings, while two RBIs from Gleyber Torres and Austin Wells helped propel New York to a 6-5 win. Monday's game is slated to begin at 7:38 pm ET.

"This Yankees-Royals game is the first in MLB postseason history with five lead changes (via @SLangsonsports)" - Talkin' Yanks

Royals vs Yankees recent form and records

Although their 86-76 record placed them 6.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the final AL Central standings, KC's Wild Card qualification is their first since winning the World Series in 2015. 4-6 in their last 10 games of the regular season, Kansas City also boasted one of the best rotations in MLB this season.

After narrowly avoiding their first last-place divisional loss since 1990 last season, the Yankees are back with a vengeance. Besting the Baltimore Orioles in their division, the team's 94 wins were the most in the AL, and manager Aaron Boone's club led MLB in home runs this season.

Players to Watch

Starting Pitchers

KC: Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA) vs Carlos Rodon (16-9, 3.96 ERA)

Ragans has a 1.143 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 223 K in 186.1 IP.

Last Start: Win, 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K vs BAL

Career vs NYY: 0-0 2.57 ERA (7 IP, 2 ER) 1 HR in 2 games

Rodon has a 1.223 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 195 K in 175 IP.

Last Start: ND, 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K vs PIT

Career vs KC: 4-6 4.66 ERA (67.2 IP, 35 ER) 9 HR in 13 games

Must-Watch Hitters

Kansas City

AL batting title leader Bobby Witt Jr. hit .292 with two homers and 12 RBIs in the last three weeks of the regular season. In his first career playoff series, Witt Jr. has a career .338 batting average against the Yankees.

"WHO ELSE? Bobby Witt Jr. comes up clutch and Kansas City retakes the lead! @MLB" - TheScore

Outfielder MJ Melendez was responsible for KC's sole home run in Game 1. The 25-year-old solidified his role as a starting Royal after a strong third season in MLB. Now, it is time for Melendez to continue to show what he can do in October.

New York

The purveyor of the only home run for the Yankees on Saturday, Gleyber Torres hit .318/.362/.466 with three home runs and nine RBIs in his final three weeks of the regular season.

"GLEYBER TORRES FOR THE LEAD! #ALDS" - MLB

A career .278 hitter against Kansas City, Giancarlo Stanton's .233 average this season was his highest since 2021. A former MVP as a member of the Miami Marlins, Stanton touts a .928 OPS in 28 career playoff games.

Former World Series winner Juan Soto was quiet in Game 1, but that does not mean that the 25-year-old stud is not poised to make an impact. In 30 career playoff games, Soto has slashed .276/.359/.509 with seven homers and 21 RBIs.

Royals vs Yankees baseball betting odds

Monday 7/10	Money Line	Run Spread	Total Runs
Kansas City Royals	+ 125	+ 1.5 -185	O 7.5 -110
New York Yankees	- 150	- 1.5 +150	U 7.5 -110

Royals vs Yankees expert picks and game prediction

Out of the seven games between the Yankees and Royals this season, the Bronx Bombers won five. Although the Yankees outgunned KC in terms of offense all season, the Royals may have the edge when it comes to pitching.

Starting on the mound for the visitors will be Cole Ragans, whose 223 strikeouts this season ranked eighth in MLB. This year, KC's rotation posted a 3.55 ERA, second only to the Seattle Mariners for the best in baseball. Ragans, who has a career 2.57 ERA against New York, was a big part of that.

Kansas hitters came close to besting the Yankees in Game 1. If Ragans can stand tall while availing of the same brand of run support, expect the Royals to tie the ALDS on Monday.

Run Line: -1.5 +150

Total Runs: O 7.5 -110

Prediction: Kansas City W, 8-6