Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Picks and Predictions for Friday April 17 2026
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The Kansas City Royals travel to take on the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York on Friday, April 17, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM and coverage available on MLB.TV. The Yankees enter as the home favorite with a moneyline of -175, while the Royals are listed at +144. The total is set at 8.5 runs with both the over and under priced at -110. On the run line, New York is -1.5 (+119) while Kansas City sits at +1.5 (-143). This matchup features a struggling road team facing a solid home club in an evening showdown. Make sure you check out all of the best free MLB picks.
Starting Pitchers Breakdown
Kansas City will send Michael Wacha to the mound, while New York counters with Cam Schlittler. Wacha has been outstanding early in the season, holding a 2-0 record with a 0.43 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP over 21.0 innings, allowing just 10 hits while striking out 17 and walking 5. Schlittler has also been strong, entering with a 2-1 record, a 2.49 ERA, and an impressive 0.74 WHIP across 21.2 innings, allowing 15 hits while striking out 30 and issuing just 1 walk without allowing a home run.
Royals Trying to Find Stability Away from Home
Kansas City enters this matchup with a 7-12 overall record and a difficult 2-7 mark on the road. The Royals have struggled recently, losing four of their last five games. They recently lost to Detroit in three consecutive contests and also recently lost a close game to Chicago before picking up a win over that same opponent earlier in the stretch.
Offensively, Kansas City has posted a .214 batting average with 56 runs scored and 122 hits, along with 13 home runs. Their on-base percentage sits at .301 and their slugging percentage at .330. On the pitching side, the Royals have recorded a 3.73 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP, while allowing opponents to hit .228. They have issued 70 walks and recorded 153 strikeouts.
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One of the key weaknesses for Kansas City has been their offensive production. With a low batting average and limited slugging numbers, they have struggled to consistently generate runs, which has contributed to their recent losing stretch.
Yankees Looking to Capitalize at Home
New York comes into this contest with a 10-9 record and a 5-5 mark at home. The Yankees have gone 2-3 over their last five games, recently losing to Los Angeles in two games but also recently winning close contests against that same opponent, along with a narrow loss to Tampa Bay.
The Yankees offense has shown power despite a lower batting average, hitting .212 as a team with 82 runs scored and 124 hits, along with 20 home runs. Their on-base percentage is .313 and their slugging percentage is .373. On the pitching side, New York has posted a 3.27 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .235 batting average. They have issued 47 walks and recorded 163 strikeouts.
A key strength for New York has been their ability to generate runs through power. With 20 home runs and a higher run total compared to their opponent, they have been able to produce offense even without a high team batting average.
Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Picks and Prediction
Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Pick
Pick: New York Yankees Moneyline
New York enters this matchup with advantages in both offensive production and overall team pitching. While both starting pitchers have been effective, the Yankees have demonstrated more power at the plate and a stronger ability to generate runs. Kansas City’s struggles on the road and recent losing stretch further support the edge for New York in this game.
Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees Total Pick
Pick: Under 8.5
I am leaning toward the under in this matchup because both starting pitchers have been highly effective, each posting strong ERAs and WHIPs early in the season. With both teams also carrying relatively low batting averages, this game has the potential to stay below the total.
Final Score Prediction: New York Yankees 4 – Kansas City Royals 2
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