The Chicago White Sox will head south to face their divisional rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. NBC Sports Chicago will be televising the matchup and the first pitch will be at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals Odds
Chicago (+135) is hosting this game as the underdog to Kansas City (-145) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this night game at 8.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total stand at +100 for the over and -120 for the under. Runline odds stand at -160 for taking the White Sox +1.5 runs and +140 for the Royals -1.5.
The Royals are only 5-17 SU and 9-12 ATS. They’ve lost 9.6 units for moneyline bettors and 7.3 units against the spread (ATS). On the other hand, the White Sox are 5-16 SU and have gone 8-12 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 9.7 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 6.0 units ATS.
Royals games have an 8-12-1 over/under record so far in 2018. The White Sox have an over/under record of 11-8-1.
Lucas Giolito will get the start for Chicago. The right-handed Giolito is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA and nine strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals are sending righty Jakob Junis (3-1, 2.02 ERA) to the mound. Junis has 20 strikeouts and five walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 0.75. Junis has yet to face the White Sox this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.
Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.6 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starters have an ERA of 4.10, a WHIP of 1.25 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.8. The bullpen has a 7.15 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 6.9 K/9. In 11 games against AL Central opponents, Royals starters have an ERA of 3.80 and the bullpen’s ERA is 6.75.
The Kansas City hitters have produced 3.3 runs per contest, including 3.0 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .222/.309/.371 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas and outfielder Jorge Soler have led the Royals’ offense this year. Moustakas is hitting .304/.333/.609 with seven home runs, 18 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Soler’s line sits at .259/.397/.379 with 15 hits, two RBIs and five runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .144/.245/.258, Soler enjoyed batting at home last season, producing .213/.302/.404 across 53 plate appearances.
In the visiting dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 6.1 runs per game and its starters own a 6.11 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 5.69 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.27, along with a WHIP of 1.60.
White Sox hitters have slashed .236/.313/.394 on their way to 3.7 runs scored per game this year, including 4.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Chicago’s hitters have been led by first baseman Jose Abreu and second baseman Yoan Moncada, who collectively have blasted 11 home runs. Abreu is hitting .286/.348/.536 with six home runs, 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored, while Moncada (.244/.347/.524) is up to five homers, 11 RBIs and 14 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .231/.338/.412, Moncada seemed to enjoy hitting righties on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of .297/.416/.516 across 77 such plate appearances.
The White Sox have lost 5.8 units and are 5-9 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in seven of those games, compared to six that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 9.2 units and are 5-7 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in four of those games, compared to seven that’ve cashed the under.
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – White Sox, O/U – UNDER
Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in just one of Chicago’s last seven games.
The White Sox have lost nine of their last 10 games SU while the Royals have lost three of their last four SU.
Kansas City has recorded 20.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 18.6 over its last five.
The White Sox have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
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