The Yankees bashed four home runs to beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-1, in Monday night’s series-opener.
The Bombers lead the league with 32 homers and a .501 slugging percentage, but their over-reliance on the long ball could be cause for concern down the line.
It seems that the formula is pretty simple.
If the Yankees go deep, they win. If they’re held in the park, they lose.
The Bombers are a -205 favorite against the Royals on Tuesday night, with Max Fried set to take on Kansas City’s Michael Wacha.
Yankees vs. Royals betting preview
Fried is clearly the A-side in this pitching matchup, and his presence on the mound, blended with Kansas City’s anemic offense, is why these odds are so wide.
The former Atlanta Braves ace has been terrific in his first three starts in Pinstripes, posting a 1.56 ERA and 1.21 WHIP while striking out over 25 percent of the batters he’s faced.
Fried’s under-the-hood numbers also sparkle, so there’s no reason to doubt the legitimacy of his start to the season.
Wacha’s first three starts in 2025 have been a mixed bag, but the veteran hurler’s skillset does present the Yankees with a challenge.
The 33-year-old has done a great job of limiting hard contact and keeping the ball in the yard over the last couple of seasons.
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Yankees vs. Royals pick
The Royals have struggled to get anything going at the plate this season. They rank at — or near — the bottom of the MLB in just about every offensive category.
That said, they’re not going to be this inept at the dish all season, and they’ve got the type of pitcher needed to keep the Yankees within striking distance Tuesday night.
It’s an ugly one, but the price on the Royals is worth a sprinkle.
The Play: Royals (+172, FanDuel)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
