Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA
Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City Royals: Both teams are struggling lately
The Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals are starting their series tonight at Kauffman Stadium.
The Cubs have another disappointing season
The Chicago Cubs are at the bottom of the NL Central with a 49-55 record, including 22-30 on the road. They have lost 4 of the last 6 games and are coming off a 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs have a 3.71 ERA, a .234 batting average, a .304 on-base percentage, and 1.25 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Nico Hoerner leads the team with 93 hits, Ian Happ is on top with 54 runs, and Christopher Morel has 18 home runs.
The Royals need to bounce back
The Kansas City Royals are third in the AL Central with a 56-47 record, including 35-20 at home. After winning four consecutive games following the All-Star break, the Royals lost the last two against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kansas City has a 3.76 ERA, a .240 batting average, a .310 on-base percentage, and 1.26 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Bobby Witt Jr. is the best player on the team with 141 hits, 83 runs, and 18 home runs.
Betting Trends
The Royals are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games overall, 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against teams from the NL and 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against teams from the NL Central. Kansas City has played under the total run line in 7 of their last 9 games overall, in 11 of their last 15 games against the Cubsm in 12 of their last 17 home games and in 4 of their last home games against the Cubs. The Cubs are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games overall, 2-5 SU in their last 7 games against the Royals, 5-2 SU in their last 7 games on the road and 6-1 SU in their last 7 games against teams from the NL Central. Chicago has played under the total run line in their last 6 games overall and in 8 of their last 9 games against teams from the AL.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Kansas City Chiefs have a promising season and are one of the best home teams in the league. They are going into this series after losing two consecutive games to the Diamondbacks and need to get back on the winning track. The Royals will start with Brady Singer on the mound, who is 6-6 for the season with a 3.00 ERA, 106 K, 111 IP, and 1.22 WHIP. The Cubs, who are struggling all season long, will go with veteran Kyle Hendricks, who is 2-8 for the season with a 6.69 ERA, 52 K, 75.1 IP, and 1.49 WHIP. Knowing the importance of the game for the Royals, their impressive home record, and the pitchers records, we are going with Kansas City winning this one.
