Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Guardians, MLB forecast
Win probability
Starts from the pregame forecast, then moves with the score and the time left after each inning. Above the line favors CLE.
Game center
From the ESPN box score.
Top performers
- Bobby Witt Jr.Batting3-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI
- Brady SingerPitching5.0 IP, 6 ER, 3 K
- Josh NaylorBatting3-5, 2 RBI
- Gavin WilliamsPitching5.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 K
Scoring summary
- 8
Bell singled to center, Ramírez scored and Freeman scored.6–10 - 8
Pitch 10 : Ball In Play6–10 - 8
Pitch 9 : Ball 36–8 - 8
Pitch 8 : Strike 2 Foul6–8 - 8
Pitch 7 : Ball 26–8 - 8
Pitch 6 : Strike 2 Foul6–8 - 8
Pitch 5 : Strike 2 Foul6–8 - 8
Pitch 4 : Strike 2 Foul6–8 - 8
Pitch 3 : Ball 16–8 - 8
Pitch 2 : Strike 2 Swinging6–8 - 8
Pitch 1 : Strike 1 Foul6–8 - 8
J. Naylor doubled to left, Rosario scored, Ramírez to third.6–8 - 8
Pitch 2 : Ball In Play6–8 - 8
Pitch 1 : Strike 1 Foul6–7 - 8
Garcia doubled to center, Duffy scored, Lopez thrown out at home.6–7 - 8
Pitch 1 : Ball In Play6–7 - 8
Lopez singled to left, Isbel scored, Duffy to second.5–7 - 8
Pitch 1 : Ball In Play5–7 - 7
Witt Jr. homered to left center (431 feet).4–7 - 7
Pitch 1 : Ball In Play4–7 - 6
Giménez grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Rosario scored, J. Naylor out at second.3–7 - 6
Pitch 3 : Ball In Play3–7 - 6
Pitch 2 : Strike 2 Foul3–6 - 6
Pitch 1 : Strike 1 Looking3–6 - 6
Waters hit sacrifice fly to right, Fermin scored, Isbel to third.3–6 - 6
Pitch 4 : Ball In Play3–6 - 6
Pitch 3 : Ball 12–6 - 6
Pitch 2 : Strike 2 Looking2–6 - 6
Pitch 1 : Strike 1 Foul2–6 - 6
Isbel doubled to center, Melendez scored, Fermin to third.2–6 - 6
Pitch 5 : Ball In Play2–6 - 6
Pitch 4 : Ball 21–6 - 6
Pitch 3 : Ball 11–6 - 6
Pitch 2 : Strike 2 Foul1–6 - 6
Pitch 1 : Strike 1 Foul1–6 - 5
Bo Naylor doubled to center, Straw scored.1–6 - 5
Pitch 3 : Ball In Play1–6 - 5
Pitch 2 : Ball 21–5 - 5
Pitch 1 : Ball 11–5 - 5
Witt Jr. tripled to right, Lopez scored.1–5
The pick
Reconstructed from what was known before the game: the ratings at that point.
Guardians 57%
Forecast Elo ratings alone
How often that comes true: MLB favorites the forecast gave 55–60% have won 55.5% of 2,596 graded games.
- Market
- No line yet
- Pre-line forecast
- CLE 57%
- Elo + market-implied
- Elo ratings
- CLE 61%
- Fair odds
- CLE -133
- KC +133 · the forecast as odds, no margin
- Pregame projection
- KC 3.7 – 4.4 CLE
- Margin from the forecast, total from team scoring ratings
How the number is built
Elo inputs in rating points (higher favors that team; 25–28 Elo is about a point of spread in football and basketball), then how the pieces combine.
| Factor | KC | CLE | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team rating | 1433 | 1498 | Elo entering the game; 1500 is league average |
| Home field | — | +18 | Worth 18 Elo in MLB |
| Starting pitchers | +8 | −2 | KC: Brady Singer: team allows 0.38 fewer runs than with its usual starter (≈8 weighted starts) · CLE: Gavin Williams: team allows 0.08 more runs than with its usual starter (≈3 weighted starts) |
| Elo ratings | CLE +74 Elo | CLE 60.5% | |
| Market-implied ratings | CLE 56.4% | Team strength as past closing lines priced it, same game context | |
| Pre-line forecast | CLE 57.0% | 15% Elo, 85% market-implied (log-odds blend) | |
Tale of the tape
This season coming into the game, regular season, each number with its league rank (the longer the bar, the higher). Home and road: the host's record at home against the visitor's on the road.
| KC | Stat | |
|---|---|---|
| 29th of 303.7 | Runs scored | 4.027th of 30 |
| 28th of 305.4 | Runs allowed | 4.16th of 30 |
| 29th of 30−1.7 | Margin | −0.119th of 30 |
| 25th of 303–7 | Last 10 | 6–47th of 30 |
| 30th of 3012–33 | Road vs home | 23–2116th of 30 |
Rating history
Each team's Elo over the last two seasons. Hover or drag to compare on any date.
Recent form
Last five results, and whether the forecast hit.
Head to head
KC 1–4 CLE in their last 5 meetings; the forecast called 4 of 5.



