The streaking Pittsburgh Pirates are searching for their fifth straight win as they play host to the Kansas City Royals at PNC Park. Fox Sports Kansas City will televise this interleague matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Kansas City (+185) is the underdog against Pittsburgh (-200) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this game at 8 runs (+105 for the over and -125 for the under). The game’s runline odds sit at -120 for taking the Royals +1.5 runs and +100 for the Pirates -1.5.
The Pirates are 76-74 straight up (SU) and 73-76 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 2.0 units for moneyline bettors while earning 10.9 units (ATS). Pittsburgh has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Royals are 52-99 SU and have gone 74-76 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 25.8 units for moneyline bettors and 11.0 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Pirates games have an over/under record of 66-73-10 in 2018. The Royals have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 66-73-11.
Heath Fillmyer is getting the start for Kansas City. Fillmyer is 3-1 with a 4.76 ERA and 43 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Pirates this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Pirates will put the ball in the right hand of Chris Archer (4-8, 4.66 ERA, 1.41 WHIP), who has 145 strikeouts and 46 walks this season. Archer only made one start against the Royals in 2017 (1-0, 0.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts across eight innings).
As a unit, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have given up 4.3 runs per game overall this year. The team’s starters have an ERA of 4.00, a WHIP of 1.26 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.6. The bullpen has a 4.08 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 9.6 K/9.
Pittsburgh’s offense has put up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game over its last 10 games and 3.8 per game over its last five. The team has hit .247/.330/.365 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Outfielders Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson have led the Pirates’ offense this year. Marte is slashing .276/.320/.453 with 19 home runs, 67 RBIs, 76 runs and 32 stolen bases, while Dickerson is batting .292 with 11 homers, 51 RBIs and 60 runs.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.98 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 7.32 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.09, along with a K-per-9 of 7.30.
The Royals offense has slashed .245/.309/.389 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon continue to lead Kansas City’s hitters. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .301/.365/.432 with 12 home runs, 57 RBIs, 82 runs and 36 steals. Gordon is slashing .244/.327/.365 with 11 homers, 49 RBIs and 53 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 20.4 units and are 50-55 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over’s hit in 50 of those games, compared to 47 that’ve gone under against -handed starting pitchers.
Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in only one of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- The Royals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit eight over their last 10.
- Pittsburgh has posted 23.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.6 over its last five.
