The Kansas City Royals will be taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Fox Sports Kansas City will showcase this interleague matchup and the game gets going at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Pittsburgh (-195) is hosting this one as the favorite over Kansas City (+182) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this game at 7.5 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). Gamblers can also bet on the game’s spread with the runline odds sitting at Royals +1.5 runs (-120) and Pirates -1.5 runs (+100).
The Pirates are 75-74 straight up (SU) and 73-75 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 1.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 9.9 units (ATS). The Royals have gone 52-98 SU this year and are 73-76 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 24.8 units for moneyline bettors and 12.0 units ATS.
Pittsburgh games have a 65-73-10 over/under record in 2018. Kansas City has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 65-73-11.
Southpaw Eric Skoglund will get the start for the visiting Royals. Skoglund (1-5, 6.19 ERA) has recorded 43 strikeouts in 56.2 innings so far. He has yet to face the Pirates this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Pirates will turn to righty Jameson Taillon (13-9, 3.37 ERA), who has 156 strikeouts and 42 walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 1.20. Taillon did not record a start against the Royals in 2017.
Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 4.3 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.03, a WHIP of 1.26 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.5. The bullpen has a 4.10 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 9.6 K/9.
The Pittsburgh hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game over its last 10 games and 4.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .259/.339/.355 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Outfielders Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson have led the Pirates’ offense this year. Marte is slashing .273/.317/.452 with 19 home runs, 67 RBIs, 75 runs and 32 stolen bases, and Dickerson’s line is .292/.323/.453 with 11 homers, 51 RBIs and 60 runs.
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.02 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.35 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.10, along with a K-per-9 of 7.33.
The Royals offense has slashed .246/.309/.390 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Alex Gordon continue to lead Kansas City’s offense. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .301/.365/.434 with 12 home runs, 57 RBIs, 82 runs and 36 steals, while Gordon is hitting .245/.328/.365 with 11 homers, 49 RBIs and 53 runs scored.
Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has logged 25 extra-base hits over its last five games. Pittsburgh has 12 XBH over its last five.
- Pittsburgh has recorded 22.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 21.4 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
