The Kansas City Royals are set to host their divisional rival Chicago White Sox at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. WGN will broadcast the action and the game gets going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals Odds
Vegas is listing Chicago (-125) as the favorite over Kansas City (+115). If you think the game’s total will go under 9 runs, Vegas is currently offering -115 odds. Picking the over will give you -105 odds. The game’s runline odds sit at +120 for betting the White Sox -1.5 runs and -140 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are 32-62 straight up (SU) and 44-49 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 18.3 units for moneyline bettors and 16.7 units ATS. Kansas City has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 42-47 SU and have gone 41-47 against the spread. In total, the team’s gained 9.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline, but have lost 10.2 units ATS. Chicago is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Neither side has positioned itself as a strong over/under bet this season. Royals games have an over/under record of 44-42-7 so far in 2019. White Sox games have gone under 44 times, gone over 42 times and pushed on two occasions.
The right-handed Lucas Giolito is projected to start for the visiting White Sox. Giolito (11-3, 3.15 ERA) has racked up 120 strikeouts in 100 innings so far. He’s 3-0 with 34 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA against Kansas City this year (four starts).
The Royals will send righty Jakob Junis (4-8, 5.33 ERA) to the mound. Junis has 98 punchouts and 38 walks to his name, along with a 1.45 WHIP. Junis is 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 4.76 ERA in one start against Chicago this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.2 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 5.30 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.81 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 8.6 K/9. In 42 games against AL Central foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.05 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.05.
Kansas City’s offense has put up 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .259/.310/.407 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Royals’ hitters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is slashing .309/.361/.500 with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs, 66 runs and 14 stolen bases, while Gordon is batting .274 with 10 homers, 56 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.45 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 7.99 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.56, along with a WHIP of 1.49 and a K/9 of 8.31.
White Sox hitters have slashed .256/.314/.408 on their way to 4.3 runs scored per game this season, including 4.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Yoan Moncada and Jose Abreu continue to lead Chicago’s offense. Moncada is slashing .306/.362/.533 with 16 home runs, 49 RBIs and 49 runs scored, while Abreu (.272/.309/.507) is up to 21 homers, 66 RBIs and 44 runs scored.
The White Sox have gained 2.3 units and are 25-35 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 27 of those games, as opposed to 31 that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 14.2 units and are 31-36 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 33 of those games, compared to 30 that went under the total.
White Sox vs. Royals MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – White Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in three of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- The White Sox have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit seven over their last 10.
- The White Sox have an OPS of .722 this season and an OPS of .710 when facing right-handed pitchers. The Royals’ OPS sits at .713 overall and .727 against righties.
- Chicago has posted 21.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.4 over its last five.
- The White Sox have lost five of their last six games SU.
