New York Yankees vs Kansas City Royals MLB Free Picks: The Royals surprised the Yankees with a 10th inning victory last night in the Bronx. It was rookie Eric Hosmer who starred for the Royals. Hosmer hit his first career home run and scored the go ahead run in the 10th inning.

Amazingly, the Royals won the game despite getting only four hits. The Yankees pounded out twelve hits, but they couldn’t come up with that clutch hit with runners in scoring position. Two young pitchers will start in this series finale in Yankee Stadium on Thursday night.

Sean O’Sullivan will start for the Royals in this one. He has been very good so far this year, but this will certainly be his toughest test of the season. In fact, O’Sullivan has yet to pitch on the road this year. All 29 of his innings pitched have been at home.

The Yankees lineup will be a tough matchup for him. Kansas City has an improving offense thanks to some high quality young hitters. Hosmer is a rookie, but he has a chance to be a perennial All-Star. Billy Butler is a consistent hitter who can drive in runs with his clutch hits.

The Royals lead the majors in stolen bases, and this team isn’t afraid to run with just about anyone. Former Yankee Melky Cabrera is having a great bounce back season.

Curtis Granderson hit his league-leading 12th home run on Wednesday night, but the Yankees offense just couldn’t come up with a big hit in crunch time. The Yankees have hit more home runs than any other team in baseball, and they are second in baseball in average runs scored per game.

Robinson Cano is having a great year, but he is questionable for Thursday’s game after being hit in the helmet by a pitch on Wednesday. Derek Jeter and Brett Gardner both started the season slowly, but both of them are hitting the baseball very well right now.

Ivan Nova has quietly been putting together a solid year on the mound. Nova has an ERA of 4.08, and he has been great in his last couple outings.

I think O’Sullivan will have a difficult time taming this Yankees lineup. The Royals will likely put up a few runs as well. I think the total is set a little too low here.

MLB Free Pick: Royals/Yankees over 9.5

Kansas City Royals (19-17) vs. New York Yankees (20-14) MLB Betting Lines

Money line: Yankees (-193) Royals (+180)

Over/Under: 9.5

Starting Pitchers: Royals (O’Sullivan) vs. Yankees (Nova)

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