The Kansas City Royals will look to avoid losing their fourth straight game as they play host to the Chicago Cubs at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The game gets going at 8:15 p.m. ET and this interleague matchup will be shown on NSC+ and FSKC.
Chicago Cubs vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Vegas has listed Chicago (-200) as the favorite over Kansas City (+185). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -120 for over 9.5 runs and +100 for under 9.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at -140 for the Cubs -1.5 runs and +120 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are 34-76 straight up (SU) and 50-60 against the spread (ATS). The team’s lost 27.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 19.5 units (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. On the other hand, the Cubs have gone 64-46 SU this year and are 56-54 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 1.4 units for moneyline gamblers and 2.1 units ATS. Chicago is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Kansas City games have a 47-57-6 over/under record in 2018. Chicago has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 51-57-2.
Southpaw Cole Hamels is projected to start for the visiting Cubs. Hamels is 6-9 with a 4.53 ERA and 123 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with nine strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals are handing the ball to righty Jakob Junis (6-11, 5.12 ERA), who has 106 punchouts and 35 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.35. Junis hasn’t faced the Cubs yet this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.
Kansas City’s pitching staff has allowed 5.5 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.31, a WHIP of 1.48 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.41 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
The Kansas City hitters are putting up 3.7 runs per contest, including 4.7 per game over its last 10 games and 4.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .229/.288/.359 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have led the Royals’ hitters this year. Merrifield is hitting .301/.370/.424 with six home runs, 35 RBIs, 53 runs and 25 steals, while Moustakas is batting .249 with 20 homers, 62 RBIs and 46 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.10 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 7.67 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.27, along with a WHIP of 1.38.
The Cubs offense has slashed .266/.348/.425 on its way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Second baseman Javier Baez and first baseman Anthony Rizzo have led Chicago’s hitters. Baez is slashing .299/.333/.577 with 23 home runs, 84 RBIs, 69 runs and 19 steals. Rizzo is slashing .264/.361/.450 with 17 homers, 73 RBIs and 47 runs scored.
The Cubs have lost 5.2 units and are 41-43 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 40 of those games, as opposed to 42 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 2.4 units and are 20-15 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 13 of those games, compared to 21 which went under the total.
Chicago Cubs vs. Kansas City Royals MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
Chicago has logged 19 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Kansas City has 12 XBH over its last five.
The Cubs have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 12 over their last 10.
Kansas City has recorded 22.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.4 over its last five.
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