The Kansas City Royals will welcome the Chicago White Sox to Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium in Game 1 of an AL Central doubleheader. WGN will televise the action and the game gets going at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
The White Sox have gone just 7-16 SU this year and are 10-12 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 9.2 units for moneyline bettors over the early portions of the season and 4.0 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in three of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 5-19 SU and 9-14 ATS. They’ve lost 12.1 units for moneyline bettors and 9.8 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Royals games have an over/under record of 8-13-2 so far in 2018. White Sox games have gone over 11 times, gone under nine times and pushed on two occasions.
The right-handed Carson Fulmer is projected to start for the visiting White Sox. Fulmer is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Royals this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Royals will turn to Trevor Oaks (0-0, ERA), who’s got zero strikeouts and zero walks to his credit as well as a WHIP. Oaks did not pitch in the majors in 2017.
Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 5.9 runs per game and its starters own a 5.80 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 5.42 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.91, along with a WHIP of 1.58.
The White Sox offense has slashed .240/.312/.417 on its way to 3.9 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).
Matt Davidson and Yoan Moncada have led Chicago’s hitters. Davidson is slashing .237/.356/.632 with nine home runs, 18 RBIs and 15 runs scored, while Moncada has a .264 average with six homers, 12 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
In the home-team dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.7 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 4.41 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 6.72 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 6.6 K/9. In 13 games against divisional foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.38 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.97.
The Kansas City offense has produced 3.3 runs per contest, including 3.1 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over its last five. The team has hit .242/.318/.410 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Royals’ hitters have been led by third baseman Mike Moustakas and right fielder Jorge Soler. Moustakas is hitting .311/.336/.621 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 16 runs scored, while Soler’s line is .292/.427/.462 with 19 hits, five RBIs and six runs.
Soler enjoyed batting at home last year, slashing .213/.302/.404 across 53 plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .144/.245/.258).
The Royals have lost 11.7 units and are 5-9 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in four of those games, compared to eight that’ve gone under.
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – White Sox, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Royals have lost five of their last six games SU.
Kansas City has posted 21.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.0 over its last five.
The White Sox have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games, including 11 over their last five.
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