The Kansas City Royals (73-71) and the Cleveland Guardians (73-70) play the second game of a 4-game series Tuesday at Progressive Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Royals vs. Guardians odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Guardians lead 6-4

The Guardians beat the Royals 10-2 in Monday’s series opener, cashing as -114 home favorites with the Over (7.5) hitting. SP Slade Cecconi (win, 8 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 3 K) took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, and DH Kyle Manzardo (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) and CF-2B Daniel Schneemann (3-for-5, 2 RBIs) each had 3 hits and drove in 2 runs. Cleveland is 2½ games back of the Seattle Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot.

Royals rookie SP Ryan Bergert (loss, 3 1/3 IP, 8 ER, 11 H, 3 BB, 3 K) allowed more than 3 earned runs in a start for the first time in his career, while RF Jac Caglianone (1-for-3, 2 RBIs) drove in both of Kansas City’s runs with a 2-run single in the ninth. The Royals are 3 games out of the final AL Wild Card.

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Royals at Guardians projected starters

LHP Noah Cameron vs. LHP Joey Cantillo

Cameron (7-6, 3.03 ERA) makes his 21st start. The rookie has a 1.13 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 7.0 K/9 through 113 innings.

Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 5 BB, 5 K in 4-3 home victory vs. Los Angeles Angels Thursday2025 road stats: 3-3, 2.94 ERA (52 IP, 17 ER), 1.12 WHIP, 5.7 K/9 in 9 startsCareer vs. Guardians: 1 home start (July 27), win, 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 4-1 victory

Cantillo (4-3, 3.73 ERA) makes his 10th start and 31st appearance. The rookie has a 1.40 WHIP, 4.7 BB/9 and 10.8 K/9 through 72 1/3 innings.

Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 8-1 victory at Boston Red Sox Wednesday2025 home stats: 1-2, 4.70 ERA (30 2/3 IP, 16 ER), 1.53 WHIP, 12.0 K/9 in 3 starts and 9 relief appearances2025 vs. Royals: 0-1, 3.86 ERA (7 IP, 3 ER), 1.57 WHIP, 6 H, 5 BB, 9 K in 1 start and 2 relief appearancesCareer vs. Royals: 0-1, 3.12 ERA (8 2/3 IP, 3 ER), 1.27 WHIP, 6 H, 5 BB, 10 K in 1 start and 3 relief appearancesRoyals at Guardians odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:10 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Royals +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Guardians -120 (bet $120 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Royals -1.5 (+170) | Guardians +1.5 (-210)Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Royals at Guardians picks and predictionsPrediction

Royals 4, Guardians 2

Kansas City should bounce back after dropping the series opener by 8 runs. The Royals have won 3 straight and are 4-4 this season in games immediately following a loss of 6 or more runs.

The pitching matchup looks fairly even. The Royals are 4-3 in Cameron’s starts since the All-Star break, while the Guardians are 3-3 in Cantillo’s outings over the same span. The real difference here should be Kansas City’s focus following Monday’s rout.

BET ROYALS (+100).

The straddle is too high in this market.

PASS on the run line.

The Under is 6-1 in Cameron’s last 7 starts and 2-1 in Cantillo’s last 3. Since the break, Cameron has allowed 2 earned runs or fewer in 4 of 7 starts, while Cantillo has done so in 4 of 6.

BET UNDER 7.5 (-110).

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