This is an 8* MISMATCH on the Guardians runline.

These teams are only separated by three games for the division lead. They play each other seven times over the next ten days.

KC lost two of three at Philly, getting blown out badly the last two days, while Cleveland took two of three from the Rangers here this weekend.

These teams are suddenly moving in opposite directions and I say that continues here on Monday afternoon in the first game of this double-header. KC is 4-2 so far in the season series, making this is a bit of a 'revenge' factor as well for the home side.

Cole Ragans is 10-8 with a 3.31 ERA for the visitors, but he's off a terrible start vs. the lowly Angels, conceding five runs over five-plus innings.

Ragans faced Cleveland back on June 29th and was shelled for five runs over four innings in the setback.

He'll be opposed by Cleveland reliever Nick Sandlin, who is 7-0 with a 3.88 ERA. Sandlin will then make way for lefty Joey Cantillo, likely after the second inning.

For argument's sake, I'm going to call these starting pitchers a "wash."

The Royals bullpen has been terrible of late, and they're consistently making stupid fielding errors.

I'm laying the mid-sized price though for the extra 1.5 runs of insurance; the play is CLEVELAND on the RUNLINE option.

Good luck, NP