The Kansas City Royals will play host to their divisional rival Chicago White Sox at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. WGN will televise the matchup and the game will get going at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
The White Sox are only 8-17 SU and are 11-12 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 8.1 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 3.0 units ATS. The Royals, on the other hand, are 6-20 SU and 9-15 ATS. They’ve lost 13.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 10.8 units ATS.
Kansas City games have an over/under record of 9-13-2 thus far in 2018. Chicago has an over/under record of 12-9-2.
Hector Santiago is getting the nod for Chicago. The southpaw Santiago is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 15 strikeouts. He has yet to face Kansas City this year, but he did make three starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 1-1 record with a 5.40 ERA and seven strikeouts.
The Royals are turning to righty Ian Kennedy (1-3, 3.46 ERA), who has 22 strikeouts and eight walks to his name as well as a 1.42 WHIP. Kennedy is 0-0 with five strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA over one starts against Chicago this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff has yielded 5.6 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have a 4.42 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 6.67 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 6.8 K/9. In 15 games against AL Central opponents, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.40 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.98.
The Kansas City hitters have produced 3.2 runs per outing, including 3.0 per game against divisional foes and 2.8 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .242/.311/.354 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Mike Moustakas has helped lead the Royals’ offense this year with eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 17 runs scored. Moustakas did not perform very well against lefty pitching at home in 2017. Over 84 such plate appearances, he slashed .241/.274/.405 (his total season line was .271/.313/.519).
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starters own a 5.29 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 5.29 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.80, along with a K-per-9 of 9.69.
The White Sox offense has slashed .244/.314/.418 on its way to 4.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Chicago’s hitters have been spearheaded by Matt Davidson. Davidson is slashing .250/.364/.619 with nine home runs, 18 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
The Royals are looking for another victory following a 5-2 win in the prior game of the series.
Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – White Sox, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The under has cashed in four of Kansas City’s last seven games.
The White Sox have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
Chicago fielders have 10 errors over the last 10 games, compared to four errors for Kansas City over its last 10.
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