The Kansas City Royals will play their divisional rival Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. The matchup will begin at 2:10 p.m. ET and NBC Sports Chicago will be televising the game.
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox Odds
Vegas is listing Kansas City (+135) as the underdog to Chicago (-145). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds posted at -120 for over 9.5 runs and even money (+100) for under 9.5. The game’s most recent runline odds stand at -160 for taking the Royals +1.5 runs and +140 for the White Sox -1.5 runs.
The White Sox are 61-60 against the spread (ATS)despite being only 45-77 straight up (SU). They’ve lost 17.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.1 units (ATS). The Royals have gone 38-85 SU this year and are 56-66 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 32.5 units for moneyline gamblers and 20.6 units ATS.
White Sox games have had an over/under record of 58-57-6 in 2018. The Royals have been a decent under bet with a total record of 53-62-7.
Heath Fillmyer will get the nod for the visiting Royals. Fillmyer (1-1, 3.61 ERA) has recorded 24 strikeouts in 42.1 innings so far. He’s 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA against Chicago this year.
The White Sox are putting the ball in the right hand of Reynaldo Lopez (4-9, 4.40 ERA, 1.35 WHIP), who’s got 98 strikeouts and 60 walks. Lopez is 0-1 with 13 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA over three starts against Kansas City this year.
Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starters own a 5.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 7.37 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.27, along with a WHIP of 1.47.
Royals hitters have slashed .240/.304/.373 on their way to 3.7 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Kansas City’s offense has been powered by second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .302/.371/.420 with seven home runs, 40 RBIs, 57 runs and 26 steals, while Perez (.238/.276/.438) is up to 21 homers, 60 RBIs and 40 runs scored.
For the home team, Chicago’s pitchers have given up 5.3 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have a 5.09 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 6.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.64 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 9.6 K/9. In 52 games against divisional foes, White Sox starters have an ERA of 4.57 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.51.
The Chicago hitters are putting up 4.1 runs per contest, including 4.2 per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .281/.326/.478 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The White Sox batters have been led by first baseman Jose Abreu and third baseman Yolmer Sanchez. Abreu is hitting .269/.327/.489 with 22 home runs, 76 RBIs and 65 runs scored, while Sanchez’s line is .248/.304/.388 with seven homers, 45 RBIs and 44 runs.
The Royals have lost 28.1 units and are 34-48 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 39 of those games, compared to 38 that’ve gone under against -handed starting pitchers.
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in five of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- Chicago has recorded 20.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 25.4 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
