White Sox vs. Royals Pick
Will the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals be able to hit a lofty total when the two meet up tonight at 8:15PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Kansas City is favored to win tonight’s game, as the Royals are getting odds of -180 to win, while the White Sox are listed with odds of +160 to prevail. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 10.5 runs. The White Sox have won five of seven meetings with KC this season and the two have hit the under in four of their last five meetings.
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The pitching matchup tonight has James Shields (2-2, 5.10 ERA) on the mound for the White Sox to face Ian Kennedy (3-6, 4.32) of the Royals. Shields has struggled in recent starts, allowing 19 runs over his last four trips to the mound. He has 31 strikeouts with 22 walks and a 1.49 WHIP this season. Kennedy has settled in for KC, allowing two earned runs or less in five of his last six starts. Kennedy has 82 strikeouts this year with 37 walks and 1.15 WHIP.
The Sox have been a mess lately, losing six straight and nine of their last 10. They have hit the under in five of their last seven games as well. Chicago is 38-54 overall, 19-31 on the road and 46-43 with the over. Chicago is averaging 4.45 runs per game while allowing 4.93. The Sox sent Todd Frazier, David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle to the Yankees this week to commit to selling. The team is led by Avisail Garcia, who is hitting .313 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI. Jose Abreu is adding 25 doubles, 16 home runs and 59 RBI.
Kansas City snapped out of its funk by winning its last two games against the Tigers. They have hit the over in three of their last four games. KC is now 47-47 overall, 27-23 at home and 46-43 with the under. Kansas City is averaging 4.19 runs on the year while giving up 4.49. The Royals are being led by Mike Moustakas, who has 25 home runs with 59 RBI. Salvador Perez is adding 18 home runs and 59 RBI.
Neither lineup is one you would expect a lot of run production from right now. Chicago has been struggling at the plate during this big losing streak and now one of their bigger power hitters is gone. Kansas City has never been tremendous at the plate either, so I don’t see them lighting up a poor pitcher in Shields. I like Kennedy to keep Chicago from doing much damage as well. Go with the under tonight.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: WHITE SOX/ROYALS UNDER 10.5