The Kansas City Royals will be taking the field against their divisional nemesis Chicago White Sox in a Thursday showdown. WGN will be airing the matchup and the game is scheduled to get going at 2:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox Odds
Chicago (-170) is a pretty solid favorite against Kansas City (+160) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this day game at 9 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total currently stand at +100 for the over and -120 for the under. Gamblers can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at Royals +1.5 runs (-135) and White Sox -1.5 runs (+115).
The White Sox are 64-81 straight up (SU) and 69-74 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 8.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 9.6 units ATS. The Royals have gone 54-92 SU this year and are 67-78 against the spread. In total, the club has lost 22.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 24.6 units ATS.
Chicago games have a 66-71-6 over/under record in 2019. Royals games have gone over 71 times, gone under 66 times and pushed on eight instances.
The right-handed Jorge Lopez will get the nod for Kansas City. Lopez (3-7, 6.23 ERA) has racked up 100 strikeouts in 104 innings so far. He’s 0-2 with 23 strikeouts and a 6.19 ERA against Chicago this year (two starts).
The White Sox will turn to righty Lucas Giolito (14-8, 3.27 ERA), who’s got 216 punchouts and 56 walks, in addition to a 1.07 WHIP. Giolito is 3-1 with 39 strikeouts and a 2.32 ERA over five starts against Kansas City this year.
Chicago’s pitching staff has yielded 5.2 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 5.26, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.3. The bullpen has a 4.52 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 8.3 K/9. In 62 divisional games, White Sox starters have an ERA of 4.98 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.01.
The Chicago offense has put up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .251/.321/.473 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Jose Abreu and Leury Garcia have led the White Sox offense this year. Abreu is slashing .284/.332/.516 with 32 home runs, 114 RBIs and 74 runs scored, and Garcia’s line sits at .276/.307/.375 with seven homers, 38 RBIs, 88 runs and 15 stolen bases.
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.21 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 7.33 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.04, along with a WHIP of 1.42 and a K/9 of 8.52.
Royals hitters have slashed .246/.311/.401 on their way to 4.3 runs scored per game this season, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Jorge Soler have paced Kansas City’s hitters. Merrifield is slashing .306/.353/.472 with 16 home runs, 72 RBIs, 95 runs and 18 stolen bases, while Soler (.255/.347/.552) is up to 43 homers, 106 RBIs and 82 runs scored.
Royals at White Sox MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Kansas City has tallied 15 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Chicago has 19 XBH over its last five.
- The Royals have a total OPS of .712 this season and an OPS of .721 against right-handed pitchers. The White Sox’ OPS sits at .716 overall and .700 versus righties.
- Kansas City has recorded 24.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.2 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
