Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Guardians Pick – 9/8/2025
The Cleveland Guardians will host the Kansas City Royals in a huge game for both AL Central clubs on Monday night. Both of these teams are within three games of the final Wild Card spot in the American League and will look for a huge win here. Before these AL Central opponents face off on Monday night, continue reading to get my Royals vs Guardians prediction for this huge contest in the AL Wild Card chase.
Our Royals vs Guardians Pick
- Pick: Kansas City Royals moneyline
- Confidence: 4/5
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Guardians
- Date and Time: Monday, September 8, 6:40 PM ET
- Starting Pitchers: Ryan Bergert vs Slade Cecconi
- Stadium: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
- Broadcast: MLB.tv
Key Storylines
- Ryan Bergert has been a late-season spark for Kansas City. He is working deeper into games with a better fastball and a firmer slider. His recent run prevention and WHIP stand out for a relatively inexperienced pitcher.
- Slade Cecconi has shown flashes for the Guardians but he can give up damage the second time through orders.
- Bobby Witt Jr. continues to impact every facet for Kansas City and José Ramírez anchors Cleveland’s run creation with contact, pull-side power, and clutch extra-base hits.
Pitching matchup
- Kansas City starter Ryan Bergert is 2-1 with a 2.61 ERA for the season. He has been a great acquisition since joining the Royals from the San Diego Padres.
- Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi is 5-6 with a 4.78 ERA. He has allowed 22 home runs in 107.1 innings of work and he will have to be careful against the power bats of the Royals.
Recent team streaks
- The Royals had a three-game winning streak snapped in their game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
- Cleveland has won three games in a row and took three out of four games against the Tampa Bay Rays in their last series.
Best Player Props
| Player | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Vinnie Pasquantino | Over 0.5 Home Runs |
| José Ramírez | Under 1.5 Total Bases |
| Ryan Bergert | Over 4.5 Strikeouts |
| Slade Cecconi | Under 4.5 Strikeouts |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Guardians hold a 5-4 lead in their season series with the Royals this year.
- Kansas City has won three of the last four matchups between these clubs.
Royals vs Guardians Model Projection
Score Projection: Kansas City 4 – Cleveland 3
Win Probability: Kansas City 53%, Cleveland 47%
Final Thoughts
This is going to be a close game that both teams could use in their hunt for a Wild Card spot in the American League. I give the slightest of edges to the Royals in this matchup, thanks in large part to their superior starting pitching with Bergert on the mound. Cecconi’s vulnerability to giving up home runs could hurt him against Witt, Pasquantino, and the rest of the Royals. I’ll go with Kansas City to win this game and to keep the pressure on the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race.
