The ice-cold Kansas City Royals will try to avoid losing their sixth straight game when they play host to the Chicago Cubs at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. WGN will be airing this interleague showdown and the action gets going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Chicago Cubs at Kansas City Royals Odds
Kansas City (+205) is coming into this one as the underdog to Chicago (-225) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this one at 9 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total stand at -110 for both the over and the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds coming in at Cubs -1.5 runs (-150) and Royals +1.5 runs (+130).
The Cubs have gone 65-47 SU this year and are 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. They’ve lost 29.8 units for moneyline bettors and 19.5 units ATS.
Royals games have a 48-58-6 over/under record in 2018. Chicago has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 52-58-2.
Jose Quintana will get the nod for the visiting Cubs. The southpaw Quintana (10-7, 4.12 ERA) has recorded 101 strikeouts in 113.2 innings so far. He has yet to face Kansas City this year, but he did make two starts against the team in 2017, posting a 2-0 record 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 to his name, as well as a 1.42 WHIP. Fillmyer did not pitch in the majors in 2017.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.5 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have an ERA of 5.32, a WHIP of 1.48 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.5. The bullpen has a 5.37 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 7.1 K/9.
Kansas City’s offense is putting up 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 a slash-line of .250/.291/.343 over its last five games and is 0-5 SU during that span.
Whit Merrifield has helped lead the Royals’ offense this season with seven home runs, 37 RBIs, 54 runs and 25 stolen bases.
For the visitors, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.12 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 7.58 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.33, along with a K-per-9 of 8.79.
Cubs hitters have slashed .267/.348/.426 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Chicago’s offense has been spearheaded by Javier Baez. Baez is slashing .302/.335/.594 with 25 home runs, 88 RBIs, 71 runs and 19 steals.
The Cubs are coming off a 3-1 victory in the prior game of the series.
Chicago Cubs vs. Kansas City Royals Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The over has cashed in three of Chicago’s last seven contests.
The Cubs have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 13 over their last 10.
The Chicago defense has allowed seven errors over the last 10 games, compared to two errors for Kansas City over its last 10.
The Cubs have won three of their last four games SU.
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