The struggling Kansas City Royals are trying to avoid losing their sixth straight game as they play host to the Chicago Cubs at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. WGN will televise this interleague matchup and the action gets going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Chicago Cubs vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Chicago (-225) is favored over Kansas City (+205) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this night game at 9 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at -110 for both the over and the under. Gamblers can also bet on the game’s spread with the runline odds standing at -150 for the Cubs -1.5 runs and +130 for the Royals +1.5 runs.
The Cubs are 65-47 SU and have gone 57-55 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle a whole lot this year, gaining 0.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.1 units ATS. The Royals, on the other hand, are 34-78 SU and 51-61 ATS. The team’s lost 29.8 units for moneyline bettors and 19.5 units ATS.
Royals games have had an over/under record of 48-58-6 in 2018. The Cubs have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 52-58-2.
Southpaw Jose Quintana is projected to start for the visiting Cubbies. Quintana is 10-7 with a 4.12 ERA and 101 strikeouts. He has yet to face Kansas City this year, but he did make two starts against the Royals in 2017, posting a 2-0 record against them with a 0.64 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
The Royals are putting the ball in the hands of Heath Fillmyer (0-1, 3.86 ERA), who has 18 strikeouts and 15 walks as well as a 1.42 WHIP. Fillmyer did not pitch in the majors last season.
Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.5 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 5.32 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.37 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
The Kansas City offense has produced 3.7 runs per outing, including 4.7 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .250/.291/.343 over its last five matchups and is 0-5 SU during that span.
Whit Merrifield has helped lead the Royals’ offense this year with seven home runs, 37 RBIs, 54 runs and 25 steals.
For the visiting squad, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.12 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 7.58 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.33, along with a WHIP of 1.38 and a K/9 of 8.79.
The Cubs offense has slashed .267/.348/.426 on its way to 5.0 runs scored per game this year, including 4.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Javier Baez has led Chicago’s offense and is slashing .302/.335/.594 with 25 home runs, 88 RBIs, 71 runs and 19 steals.
The Cubs just took the previous game in this series by a final score of three runs to one.
Chicago Cubs at Kansas City Royals MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in just two of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- The Cubs have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 13 over their last 10.
- Kansas City has posted 22.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.4 over its last five.
- The Cubs have won three of their last four games SU.
