MLB Opening Day: Guardians' Bieber Takes on Royals' Greinke in AL Central Showdown
The Cleveland Guardians face off against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium for Opening Day, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m.
Cleveland enters as slight favorites (-124) over Kansas City (+114), with the runline at Royals +1.5 and an over/under of 8 runs.
Pitching Matchup:
- Guardians: Shane Bieber (7-4, 3.17 ERA in 2021)
- Royals: Zack Greinke (11-6, 4.16 ERA in 2021)
Key Statistics:
- Guardians: 18th in scoring (4.43 runs/game), 15th in defense (4.49 runs allowed/game)
- Royals: 24th in scoring (4.23 runs/game), 21st in defense (4.86 runs allowed/game)
- Head-to-Head: Cleveland is 14-4 vs KC in last 18 games
Key Players to Watch:
- Guardians: Jose Ramirez (.266, 36 HR, 103 RBI, 111 R, 27 SB in 2021)
- Royals: Salvador Perez (48 HR, 121 RBI in 2021), Bobby Witt Jr. (rookie debut)
Analysis: The Guardians have dominated this matchup recently, going 10-2 in their last 12 road games against KC. With ace Shane Bieber healthy and looking to reclaim his elite status (+700 AL Cy Young odds), Cleveland appears poised to continue their success against the Royals despite playing on the road.
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