From Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, we have an AL Central matchup between the White Sox and Royals. The forecast for Friday calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 80s. Chris Flexen is starting for the White Sox, and they are 27-71 and have lost four straight. Michael Wacha and the Royals are the heavy favorites on the money line, with their odds sitting at -204. The over/under line is currently 8.5 runs.
This one can be seen on NBCS, and first pitch is set for 8:10 PM ET. Chicago is +172 on the money line compared to the Royals, who are 52-45 and are 3rd in the AL Central.
Struggling White Sox: A Season of Woes and Woes
Chicago’s overall record this season is 27-71, and they are 5th in the AL Central. They are 8-25 against other AL Central teams and are 32.5 games behind the Guardians for the division lead. The White Sox are 17-34 at home and 10-37 on the road. Their record as the favorite is 5-3 compared to 22-68 as the underdog. Overall, they are 44-54 against the run line.
Chris Flexen is 2-8 this season with a 4.83 ERA. He has made 18 starts and six of them have been quality starts. The White Sox’s offense is last in the league in runs per game at home and on the road. Their team batting average of .220 is 19th in the league, while their OBP of .282 and OPS of .629 are both the worst in the league. Overall, they rank 20th in total home runs. The O/U line for the game is set at 8.5 runs, and the White Sox have an average O/U line of 8 runs this year. Their record when the O/U line is set at 8.5 runs is 12-11.
Royals Eye AL Central Surge: Key Stats and Standout Performances Fuel Kansas City’s Playoff Push
The Royals are 52-45 and 7 games back of the Guardians in the AL Central. They are 16-10 vs. divisional opponents and are 31-18 at home. Kansas City is 17-7 as the home favorite and 26-15 overall as the favorite. The Royals are 13-16-1 in series this year and are coming off a series win over the Orioles. Michael Wacha is 6-6 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. He has seven quality starts and is averaging 7.86 strikeouts per nine innings. The Royals are 55-42 against the run line this year.
Today’s over/under of 8.5 runs is right in line with the Royals’ season average of 8.5 runs per game. They have gone over the total in 40 of their 94 games and are 10-17 when the line is set at 8.5 runs. The under has hit in their last three games. Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez have been two of the Royals’ top hitters this year. Witt Jr. is hitting .323 with 16 homers and 63 RBIs, while Perez is hitting .282 with 17 homers and 62 RBIs. Perez is currently on an 8-game hitting streak.
Betting on Runs: Take the Over in White Sox vs. Royals Matchup
Our pick for this White Sox vs. Royals matchup is to take the over, with the line sitting at 8.5 runs. We actually have the Royals winning this one 5-4, but with a payout of -204 on the money line, we see more value in the over.
Looking at the starting pitchers, we have Michael Wacha finishing with five strikeouts compared to Chris Flexen with just four. Wacha is also projected to go 10th in terms of innings pitched, while Flexen is down in 18th.
Offensively, our projections have the Royals finishing with eight hits compared to the White Sox with nine. However, the White Sox are projected to finish with more strikeouts, with the Royals finishing with seven.
Michael Wacha is seventh in terms of starters to pick up a win, while Flexen is down in 18th.
