Kansas City Royals vs Baltimore Orioles picks, odds for MLB playoffs

The Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles play in the wild-card round of the American League 2024 MLB playoffs at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Which team will win the MLB playoffs series? Which team will win Game 1 on Tuesday, Oct. 1?

Check out these MLB playoff picks and predictions for the series and the game, which can be seen at 1:08 p.m. MST on ESPN2 (stream with free trial from FUBO)

The Orioles are a 1.5-run favorite over the Royals in MLB playoffs odds for Game 1, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.

Baltimore is -155 on the moneyline, while Kansas City is +130.

The over/under (run total) is set at 6.5 runs.

The Orioles are favored in series odds over the Royals as well, with BetMGM putting Baltimore at -185 to advance and Kansas City at +150.

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Watch Royals at Orioles with FUBO (free trial)

Royals vs Orioles picks, predictions for Game 1

Sportsbook Wire: Orioles 5, Royals 3

Skip Snow writes: “The Orioles are 8-2 over their last 10 games while Kansas City is just 4-9 with a .531 OPS over its last 13 games. And the Royals are 1-3 over their last 4 series openers. Ragans has benefitted from some low batting-average-on-balls-in-play figures of late. Per ESPN, current Baltimore bats own an aggregate .837 OPS against him. Burnes has a postseason pedigree. Per ESPN, current K.C. bats own an aggregate .595 OPS against him. Baltimore righting the ship late should give the Orioles a shot of confidence in this October opener.”

FOX Sports: Orioles 5, Royals 4

It writes: “This season, the Orioles have been favored 117 times and won 67, or 57.3%, of those games. Baltimore is 35-23 this season when entering a game favored by -154 or more on the moneyline. The moneyline for this contest implies a 60.6% chance of a victory for the Orioles.”

ESPN: Orioles have a 59% chance to beat Royals in Game 1

The site’s matchup predictor gives Kansas City a 41% shot to beat Baltimore in Tuesday’s MLB playoff game.

MLB playoff schedule today:TV channels, times, how to watch, stream 2024 postseason games

Royals vs Orioles picks, predictions for series

MLB.com: Orioles will beat Royals in MLB playoffs series

It writes: “With superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and All-Star starting pitchers Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo leading the way, the Royals became just the third team in MLB history to reach the postseason the next year after losing 100 games, joining the 2017 Twins and 2020 Marlins. But our experts give the slight edge to the Orioles, who are looking to avoid another quick postseason exit after being swept by the eventual World Series champion Rangers in the AL Division Series a year ago.”

The Athletic: Orioles will defeat Royals in MLB playoffs

Jayson Stark writes: “I feel like people are overlooking the Orioles. That’s a mistake. That lineup is healthier than it’s been in a long time. And any team that starts Corbin Burnes and Zach Eflin in a short series has more than enough starting pitching to win a short series.”

Bleacher Report: Royals will win wild-card series vs Orioles in three games

Tim Kelly writes: “For as great as Bobby Witt Jr. has been for the Royals this year, it’s their starting pitching that gives them the edge. The Orioles (Corbin Burnes) and the Royals (Cole Ragans) have elite aces. But the Royals have stronger depth behind their ace with Seth Lugo, Brady Singer and Michael Wacha. Neither bullpen inspires much confidence, but if the Royals have a lead in the ninth inning, Lucas Erceg is a trustworthy option to close the game out. Whether it’s Seranthony Domínguez, Yennier Cano or Gregory Soto, there are just too many questions about manager Brandon Hyde’s bullpen in Baltimore. Poor starting rotation depth and uncertainty in the bullpen are bad combinations for the postseason, and they will doom an Orioles team that once looked like a World Series front-runner.”

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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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