Quietly, below the radar, Ian Kennedy has been one of the hottest pitchers in baseball with a 1.14 ERA in his last six starts. Not once during this span has Kennedy given up more than two runs.

The Royals have won 80 percent of the time when favored at home going 24-6. No team can match that.

Kansas City also has had the best bullpen during the last two weeks with a 0.90 ERA. The Yankees, by contrast, have had the worst bullpen during this time frame with a 5.93 ERA. This isn't shocking since the Yankees dealt away Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller.

The proud defending world champion Royals are digging hard for a playoff spot. The Yankees have signaled their intentions to rebuild. They are playing lots of youngsters and one of them, Luis Cessa, makes his third big league start here. Cessa has a 4.11 ERA. He's surrendered seven homers in less than 31 innings.

Kansas City is 7-0 the past seven times when playing in the third game of a series.

The price is right to back the Royals in big fashion.