The Kansas City Royals will take the field against their division rival Chicago White Sox in a Wednesday night game. NBC Sports Chicago will be televising the action and the first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox Odds
Kansas City (receiving +145) is entering this game as the underdog against Chicago (-155) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 10.5 runs. Odds for betting on the game’s total now sit at +100 for the over and -120 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at -150 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +130 for the White Sox -1.5.
The White Sox are 64-80 straight up (SU) and 68-74 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 7.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 11.3 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total went over in four of those seven. The Royals have gone 53-92 SU this year and are 67-77 against the spread. Overall, the club has lost 21.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 22.6 units ATS. Kansas City is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven.
Chicago games have an over/under record of 65-71-6 in 2019. The Royals have an over/under record of 70-66-8.
Right-hander Glenn Sparkman is projected to start for Kansas City. Sparkman is 3-11 with a 5.97 ERA and 68 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with 10 strikeouts and a 3.24 ERA against Chicago this year (three starts).
The White Sox are turning to righty Reynaldo Lopez (9-12, 5.17 ERA), who’s got 149 punchouts and 60 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.43. Lopez is 2-1 with 18 strikeouts and a 4.57 ERA across four starts against Kansas City this year.
Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 5.2 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 5.22 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.52 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 8.3 K/9. In 61 divisional games, White Sox starters have an ERA of 4.89 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.03.
Chicago’s offense is putting up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .271/.344/.494 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The White Sox hitters have been led by Jose Abreu and Leury Garcia. Abreu is slashing .283/.331/.509 with 31 home runs, 112 RBIs and 72 runs scored, while Garcia’s line is .277/.308/.377 with seven homers, 38 RBIs, 88 runs and 15 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.21 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.33 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.03, along with a WHIP of 1.43 and a K-per-9 of 8.55.
Royals hitters have slashed .245/.310/.398 on their way to 4.2 runs scored per game this year, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and left fielder Alex Gordon have paced Kansas City’s offense. Merrifield is slashing .307/.355/.475 with 16 home runs, 72 RBIs, 94 runs and 18 steals, while Gordon (.264/.341/.404) has produced 13 homers, 69 RBIs and 73 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 17.6 units and are 49-56 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 51 of those games, as opposed to 50 that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the White Sox have lost 4.0 units and are 39-55 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 41 of those games, as opposed to 49 which went under the total.
Royals vs. White Sox Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – White Sox, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has logged 12 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Chicago has 22 XBH over its last five.
- The Royals have a team OPS of .708 this season and an OPS of .716 when facing right-handed pitchers. The White Sox’ OPS stands at .716 overall and .700 against righties.
- Chicago has posted 24.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 24.4 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games. The White Sox have hit 13 over their last 10.
