MLB Predictions: New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals

The New York Yankees (31-31) and Kansas City Royals (31-32) will continue an American League series Monday night at Kauffman Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET

New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals

The New York Yankees are expecting 1B Mark Teixeira back in the lineup

New York has dropped two of the first three games of this series against Kansas City, including a 2-1 setback as +115 road underdogs Sunday, while going UNDER the betting total for the third time in four contests. The Yankees are expecting first baseman Mark Teixeira to return to the lineup, as he’s posted a .366 on-base percentage and a .466 slugging percentage in 42 games. New York is 6-6 as road underdogs of +100 to +125 this season, with the OVER going 9-3 in that situation.

Yankees starting pitcher Vidal Nuno (1-2, 5.33 ERA) suffered a 7-4 home defeat to the Oakland Athletics in his last trip to the mound, as he allowed two runs and six hits over 4.2 innings of work. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA in five road appearances (three starts)—not surrendering a home run in 19.1 combined frames. Nuno will be facing the Royals for the first time in his career, while the franchise has come away with a victory in all five of his career starts outside of the Bronx.

Kansas City has won three of its last four games, while the UNDER has cashed three times in that span. The Royals have put together an even 16-16 record at home this season, but started 8-3 at this ballpark. Shortstop Alcides Escobar is the main player to watch offensively, as he’s batting .407 during an eight-game hitting streak. Kansas City is 6-1 at home with a money line of -100 to -125, with the UNDER going 6-1 in that situation.

Royals starting pitcher Jason Vargas (5-2, 3.28 ERA) didn’t earn a decision in a 5-2 home defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals in his last trip to the mound—giving up two runs and nine hits over eight frames. The left-hander is 3-2 with a 4.73 ERA in seven home appearances, as he’s served up eight home runs in 45.2 combined innings. Vargas has compiled a miserable 0-4 record and 6.75 ERA in eight appearances versus the Bronx Bombers over the course of his career.