New York Yankees @ Kansas City Royals Prediction
MLB · May 26, 2026 · Lakeshore Edge calibrated model + Polymarket cross-check.
Model gives 41.3% but three sharp markets agree on a different read: PM (36%), Kalshi (34%), and Pinnacle (36%) cluster within 3pt of each other — a +5.9pt gap from sharp consensus. Demoted from BET. Either you've found a soft line or the model is wrong here.
Why the model leans this way
The model's base read on Kansas City Royals starts at Elo, where a 80-point disadvantage maps to a 42% baseline win probability. Recent form across the last 10 games shifted that to 38% after blending the team's last-10 record into the rating. Home-field constant adjusted by +2400.0pp.
Tonight's probable starter for Kansas City Royals is Bailey Falter (ERA 9.82). They face Cam Schlittler on the other side (ERA 1.5). Net pitching matchup is unfavorable by 3.0pp before bullpen and weather adjustments. Weather: 82F, 8mph @ 144deg. Line-movement signal: sharp shorten +4.3%.
Multi-book consensus across FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Pinnacle prices Kansas City Royals at 37.0% — broadly in line with FanDuel's read. Pinnacle (the sharp-book reference, ~2% vig) has Kansas City Royals at 36.4%. Polymarket's real-money pool reads 35.5%.
How the model got here
Each row is a stage in the probability calculation. The bar is the probability at that stage; the delta on the right is the shift from the previous stage.
What other markets think
Implied probability of Kansas City Royals across the books and prediction markets we track, alongside the Lakeshore Edge model's own number.
| Source | Implied % | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | 37.3% | Execution book (this is the price you'd take). |
| DraftKings | 37.3% | Cross-book check. |
| BetMGM | 37.7% | Cross-book check. |
| Pinnacle | 36.4% | Sharp-book reference (~2% vig). |
| Polymarket | 35.5% | Real-money prediction-market pool. |
| Kalshi | 34.5% | CFTC-regulated event market. |
| Lakeshore Edge model | 41.3% | Edge vs FanDuel: +4.0pt. |
Frequently asked
What's the model's edge on New York Yankees @ Kansas City Royals?
The Lakeshore Edge model rates Kansas City Royals at 41% to win or cover, versus FanDuel's implied 36% — a small edge of +4.0pt. That gap is what the model flags as a potential bet; the model has averaged +4.2pt CLV across 145 graded singles, meaning prices it picks tend to drift in the bettor's favor before close.
How likely is Kansas City Royals to win according to the model?
41% by the Lakeshore Edge model. Pinnacle, the industry's sharpest book at ~2% vig, has them at 36.4%; Polymarket's real-money traders price the same outcome at 35.5%. The model blends Elo, recent form, sport-specific factors (pitching, injuries, weather), and live line movement to land on that number.
Why does the model disagree with the sportsbook?
FanDuel's price implies 36% on Kansas City Royals, but the model has it at 41% — a +4.0pt gap. The model's reasoning is fully visible in the waterfall above; each adjustment stage is logged so the call can be audited after the game.
What's closing-line value (CLV) and why does it matter?
Closing-line value is how much your entry price beats the market's closing price on the same bet. If you pick a side at FanDuel -130 and the line closes at -150, the line moved 4pp toward your side after you locked in — that's positive CLV. CLV is the leading indicator of long-run profit because it's the metric that survives variance: a sustained positive CLV means you're consistently getting a better price than the consensus market settles on. Lakeshore Edge averages +4.2pt CLV on 145 graded singles, beating the close on 88% of them.
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