Royals vs. Yankees: A Jackie Robinson Day Showdown
Okay, baseball fans, get ready! The Kansas City Royals are heading to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night to face the New York Yankees – and it’s Jackie Robinson Day! First pitch is 7:05 p.m. ET, airing on YES and FanDuel Kansas City. After the Yankees' four-homer Monday night win, this one's shaping up to be a real nail-biter. Let's dive in and see what we can expect.
A Battle on the Mound
The Yankees are sending out their ace, Max Fried (2-0, 1.56 ERA), to try and secure the series win. He's been absolutely on fire this season – 21 strikeouts in just three games! That’s seriously impressive. He’ll be facing off against Royals pitcher Michael Wacha (0-2, 4.20 ERA), who’s had a bit of a mixed bag this season. But, interestingly, Wacha’s historically pitched pretty well against this Yankees lineup – at least, in the limited times they've faced off. So, who knows what to expect?
What Are the Odds? (And My Predictions)
The Yankees are the heavy favorites, with the moneyline odds at -205. The Royals are sitting at +170. The over/under for total runs is set at 8.5. Now, I’ve seen some interesting parlay bets floating around. One popular one combines Max Fried getting over 5.5 strikeouts, Ben Rice getting a hit, and a Yankees win. The odds on that are +230, which is pretty tempting. It reflects the general feeling that Fried is unstoppable right now and Rice is a reliable hitter for the Yankees.
Players to Keep Your Eye On
For the Yankees, all eyes will be on Aaron Judge. His performance could totally swing the game. For the Royals, they'll need Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez to bring their A-game at the plate if they want to stand a chance against Fried. And of course, the matchup between Wacha and that powerful Yankees lineup is going to be a major key to the whole game.
Game Details – Set Your DVRs!
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Venue: Yankee Stadium
TV: YES Network and FanDuel Kansas City
The Bottom Line: It's Going to Be Close
Even though the Yankees are favored, I think this game will be much closer than the betting odds might suggest. Wacha’s past success against the Yankees, combined with the fact that, let’s be honest, baseball is crazy unpredictable, means a Royals upset isn't totally out of the question. But, given Fried’s current form, a Yankees win feels more likely. In the end, it's all going to come down to pitching and those crucial hits. Get ready for a good one!
