Royals vs. White Sox Prediction
Will the Chicago White Sox be able to defend their home turf when they host the Kansas City Royals tonight at 8:10PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
925 Kansas City Royals at 926 Chicago White Sox
Friday, August 17, 2018
8:10PM ET – Guaranteed Rate Field
TV: FSKC; WGN
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new Baseball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers, the White Sox are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -130 to win. The Royals are listed with a money line of +120 to win, while the over/under total has been set at 9 runs. The public betting for this game currently has 64 percent on Chicago at home. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Royals can’t sustain winning
The Royals are coming off a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays on Thursday, but stringing wins together has been hard to come by for the Royals. Kansas City is now 37-84 overall and 19-40 on the road. KC is putting up just 3.69 runs per game this season while allowing 5.45 per game.
Jakob Junis gets the start for the Royals this evening. He has started 22 games this season and has a 6-11 record with a 4.82 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. Junis has pitched 127.0 innings and has 122 strikeouts with 37 walks.
White Sox take two from Tigers
The White Sox are coming off back-to-back wins over the Tigers in Detroit to win a 3-game series. Chicago is now 44-76 overall and 22-38 at home. The White Sox are scoring 4.07 runs per game this year while allowing 5.38 per contest.
James Shields will take the mound for Chicago this evening. He posts a 4-14 record through 25 starts with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Shields has 122 strikeouts and 60 walks over 157.0 innings of work.
MLB Betting Trends
Kansas City
The Royals are just 2-10 in Junis’ last 12 starts and they have lost four straight AL Central contests.
Chicago
The White Sox are just 1-5 in their last six home games and 3-7 in their last 10 AL Central games.
Prediction:
Both starters have some question marks, but I will side with Shields and the Sox tonight. Shields has just a 4.58 ERA in three starts against KC, but he is 2-1 in those start. Junis is 1-1 against Chicago with a 7.94 ERA. Shields also sports a 3.56 ERA at home this year and he has the better bats behind him. I think Chicago will be able to put up some runs at home against this KC pitching staff.
The Pick: Chicago White Sox -130