The Chicago White Sox are traveling south to play their divisional nemesis Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. WGN will be televising the matchup. The opening pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Chicago (+115) as the dog to Kansas City (-125). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +100 for over nine runs and -120 for under nine. The game’s current runline odds sit at -180 for picking the White Sox +1.5 runs and +160 for the Royals -1.5.
The White Sox have gone 56-87 SU this year and are 72-70 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 13.1 units for moneyline bettors and 3.8 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 47-95 SU and 69-72 ATS. They’ve lost 27.0 units for moneyline bettors and 11.4 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven.
Royals games have an over/under record of 61-70-10 in 2018. The White Sox have an over/under record of 68-68-6.
Lucas Giolito is getting the start for the visiting White Sox. The right-handed Giolito is 10-10 with a 5.85 ERA and 114 strikeouts. He’s 2-0 with nine strikeouts and a 2.50 ERA against Kansas City this year (three starts).
The Royals will turn to righty Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.32 ERA), who’s got 145 punchouts and 40 walks as well as a 1.25 WHIP. Junis is 1-1 with 15 strikeouts and a 6.48 ERA across three starts against Chicago this year.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.3 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have an ERA of 5.06, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.17 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 61 divisional games, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.95 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.23.
Kansas City’s offense has put up 3.8 runs per contest, including 4.2 per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .175/.271/.288 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon have led the Royals’ batters this year. Merrifield is hitting .302/.366/.431 with 11 home runs, 52 RBIs, 71 runs and 31 stolen bases, and Gordon’s line is .239/.320/.358 with 11 homers, 40 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
For the visitors, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.01 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 6.87 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.52, along with a K/9 of 9.76.
The White Sox offense has slashed .244/.305/.407 on its way to 4.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (0-5 SU).
Chicago’s hitters have been paced by third baseman Yolmer Sanchez and first baseman Jose Abreu, who’ve collectively belted 29 home runs. Sanchez is slashing .251/.319/.382 with seven home runs, 48 RBIs, 54 runs and 13 stolen bases. Abreu (.272/.331/.491) is up to 22 homers, 78 RBIs and 67 runs scored.
The White Sox have lost 7.7 units and are 54-52 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 52 of those games, compared to 49 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 21.6 units and are 46-52 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 46 of those games, compared to 45 that went under the total.
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – White Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in three of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- Kansas City has posted 23.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 14.2 over its last five.
- The White Sox have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 14 over their last 10.
