The New York Yankees host the Kansas City Royals on April 17, 2026. First pitch from Yankee Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on YES.
The Yankees are favored by -184 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Royals are +152 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Royals vs Yankees prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Royals vs Yankees Prediction
- Royals vs Yankees Pick: Ben Rice Over 1.5 Total Bases +105
My Royals vs Yankees best bet is Ben Rice to go over his total bases prop. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Royals vs Yankees Odds
| Royals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -143 | 8 -115o / -105u | +153 |
| Yankees Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +119 | 8 -115o / -105u | -186 |
- Royals vs Yankees moneyline: Royals +152, Yankees -184
- Royals vs Yankees over/under: 8 (-115o / -105u)
- Royals vs Yankees spread: Yankees -1.5 (+119 ), Royals +1.5 (-142)
Royals vs Yankees Probable Pitchers
| Michael Wacha (RHP) | Stat | Cam Schlittler (RHP) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-0 | W-L | 2-1 |
| 0.6 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 1.3 |
| 0.43/3.44 | ERA / xERA | 2.49/1.78 |
| 3.02/3.72 | FIP / xFIP | 0.54/1.36 |
| 0.71 | WHIP | 0.74 |
| 16.2 | K-BB% | 35.8 |
| 38.8 | GB% | 49 |
| 100 | Stuff+ | 113 |
| 104 | Location+ | 118 |
Royals vs Yankees MLB Betting Preview, Pick
I’m on the Ben Rice bandwagon tonight against the Royals. The main angle here centers on Michael Wacha’s changeup — one of his most frequently used and effective pitches.
Last season, Ben Rice posted just a .194 batting average against changeups, but his expected batting average on the pitch was a much healthier .309. We’re already seeing signs of positive regression this year.
In a small sample, Rice’s expected batting average against the changeup sits at .308, while his actual batting average has climbed to .286. He’s slugging over .800 against the pitch and has already hit a home run off it this season.
Wacha throws his changeup roughly 25% of the time and features five different pitches, each used at least 12% of the time. Rice has graded out above average against four of those pitches — the four-seamer, cutter, sinker, and changeup — and is only slightly below average against the slider, which is Wacha’s least-used offering.
Rice is off to a scorching hot start to the 2026 season for the Yankees, and at plus-money (+105), this prop still offers excellent value.
I like Ben Rice to stay hot and clear this total tonight.
Pick: Ben Rice Over 1.5 Total Bases +105
