The Kansas City Royals will be facing off against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast this interleague matchup and the game gets underway at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Kansas City (+185) is coming into this one as the underdog against Pittsburgh (-200) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this night game at 8 runs (+105 for the over and -125 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at Royals +1.5 runs (-120) and Pirates -1.5 runs (+100).
The Royals have gone 52-99 SU this year and are 74-76 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 25.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 11.0 units ATS. Kansas City’s covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 76-74 SU and 73-76 ATS. They’ve gained 2.0 units for moneyline bettors while earning 10.9 units ATS. Pittsburgh has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Pittsburgh games have a 66-73-10 over/under record in 2018. Kansas City has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 66-73-11.
Heath Fillmyer will get the start for the visiting Royals. Fillmyer is 3-1 with a 4.76 ERA and 43 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Pirates this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Pirates will turn to righty Chris Archer (4-8, 4.66 ERA) to the mound. Archer has 145 strikeouts and 46 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.41 WHIP. Archer only made one start against the Royals in 2017 (1-0, 0.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts across eight innings).
As a unit, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 4.3 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have a 4.00 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.08 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 9.6 K/9.
The Pittsburgh offense has produced 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game over its last 10 games and 3.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .247/.330/.365 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Outfielders Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson have led the Pirates’ offense this year. Marte is hitting .276/.320/.453 with 19 home runs, 67 RBIs, 76 runs and 32 stolen bases, while Dickerson’s line sits at .292/.322/.452 with 11 homers, 51 RBIs and 60 runs scored.
For the visiting squad, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 4.98 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 7.32 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.09, along with a WHIP of 1.42 and a K/9 of 7.30.
Royals hitters have slashed .245/.309/.389 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game this season, including 5.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon continue to lead Kansas City’s offense. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .301/.365/.432 with 12 home runs, 57 RBIs, 82 runs and 36 stolen bases. Gordon is hitting .244/.327/.365 with 11 homers, 49 RBIs and 53 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 20.4 units and are 50-55 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 50 of those games, compared to 47 that’ve gone under against -handed starting pitchers.
Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Notes
The over has hit in five of Kansas City’s last seven outings.
Kansas City has recorded 23.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 28.6 over its last five.
The Royals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit eight over their last 10.
*****
