Whit Merrifield and the Kansas City Royals will head north to Guaranteed Rate Field to face their division rival Chicago White Sox. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET and NBC Sports Chicago will showcase the matchup.
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox Odds
Chicago (-115) is favored over Kansas City (+105) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this day game at 9.5 runs (-120 for the over and +100 for the under). There’s a runline of Royals +1.5 (-200) and White Sox -1.5 (+170) for this matchup.
The Royals are only 18-34 SU and have gone 24-27 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 11.2 units for moneyline bettors and 9.8 units ATS. Kansas City is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the over has hit in three of those seven. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 23-29 SU and 24-27 ATS. The team has gained 1.8 units for moneyline bettors while earning 4.5 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
White Sox games have an over/under record of 25-25-1 thus far in 2019. The Royals have been a decent over bet with a total record of 27-20-4.
Homer Bailey is getting the nod for Kansas City. The right-handed Bailey (4-5, 6.13 ERA) has recorded 44 strikeouts in 47 innings so far. He has yet to face the White Sox this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The White Sox will deploy righty Ivan Nova (3-4, 6.96 ERA) to the mound. Nova has 35 strikeouts and 17 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.77. Nova did not register a start against the Royals in 2018.
Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.43 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.48 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.96, along with a WHIP of 1.48.
The Royals offense has slashed .246/.320/.415 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Kansas City’s offense has been sparked by second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Adalberto Mondesi. Merrifield is slashing .293/.352/.512 with seven home runs, 27 RBIs, 40 runs and eight steals. Mondesi is hitting .288 with five homers, 41 RBIs, 30 runs and 18 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff has yielded 5.3 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 5.86 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.15 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.7 K/9. In 22 games against AL Central foes, White Sox starters have an ERA of 4.65 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.00.
The Chicago hitters have put up 4.2 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .237/.286/.376 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The White Sox offense has been led by shortstop Tim Anderson and third baseman Yoan Moncada. Anderson is slashing .337/.369/.506 with eight home runs, 25 RBIs, 28 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Moncada’s line is .282/.336/.490 with nine homers, 32 RBIs, 33 runs and five stolen bases.
The Royals have lost 7.6 units and are 17-20 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 22 of those games, compared to 13 that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the White Sox have netted 0.1 units and are 16-21 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 19 of those games, compared to 17 that went under.
Royals vs. White Sox Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in three of Kansas City’s last seven outings.
- Chicago has recorded 16.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.0 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
- The Royals have an OPS of .736 this season and an OPS of .766 against right-handed pitchers. The White Sox’ OPS stands at .709 overall and .708 versus righties.
