The Kansas City Royals are set to face their divisional rival Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. The game gets underway 2:10 p.m. ET and NBC Sports Chicago will broadcast the action.
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox Odds
Vegas is listing Chicago (-110) as the favorite over Kansas City (+100). The total sits at 9 runs and bettors can take the over or the under for -110. You can also bet on the games spread with the runline odds standing at -210 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +175 for the White Sox -1.5.
The White Sox are 46-46 against the spread (ATS)despite being only 32-61 straight up (SU). They’ve lost 19.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 7.3 units (ATS). Chicago has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Royals have gone 26-67 SU this year and are 40-52 ATS. Overall, the teams lost 29.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 19.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
White Sox games have an over/under record of 42-45-5 so far in 2018. Kansas City has been a decent under bet with a total record of 38-50-4.
Danny Duffy is getting the nod for the visiting Royals. The left-handed Duffy is 4-8 with a 4.89 ERA and 95 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with eight strikeouts and an 8.10 ERA against Chicago this year (two starts).
The White Sox are going with righty Reynaldo Lopez (4-6, 3.77 ERA), who’s got 75 strikeouts and 47 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.34. Lopez is 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 2.84 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starters own a 5.42 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.23 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.36, along with a WHIP of 1.48 and a K-per-9 of 6.86.
Royals hitters have slashed .239/.302/.367 on their way to 3.6 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over the teams last five contests (1-4 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas continue to lead Kansas City’s hitters. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .305/.376/.431 with five home runs, 30 RBIs, 41 runs and 16 stolen bases, while Moustakas (.253/.309/.474) has produced 19 homers, 58 RBIs and 42 runs scored.
For the home team, Chicago’s pitching staff has given up 5.4 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have a 5.27 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.49 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. In 39 games against divisional opponents, White Sox starters have an ERA of 4.71 and the bullpens ERA is 3.31.
The Chicago offense is putting up 4.0 runs per outing, including 4.0 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over its last five. The teams hit .242/.311/.379 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The White Sox batters have been led by first baseman Jose Abreu and third baseman Yolmer Sanchez. Abreu is hitting .255/.309/.445 with 13 home runs, 52 RBIs and 43 runs scored, and Sanchez’s line is .259/.311/.411 with five homers, 41 RBIs, 33 runs and nine stolen bases.
The Royals have lost 30.9 units and are 22-39 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 26 of those games, compared to 31 that’ve gone under against righty starters. On the other hand, the White Sox have lost 3.4 units and are 11-9 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The overs hit in 10 of those games, compared to 10 that’ve gone under.
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in just two of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- The Royals have dropped 12 of their last 13 games SU.
- Kansas City has recorded 23.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 25.0 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
