Saturday, May 21, 2016

U.S. Cellular Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Danny Duffy vs. Miguel Gonzalez

The Kansas City Royals visit U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday to play the Chicago White Sox. The probable starters are Danny Duffy for the Royals and Miguel Gonzalez for the White Sox. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at +103 and Chicago at -113. The over/under was set at 9. The Royals have a 14-23-3 over/under record and a 20-20-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 50% of the time. The White Sox are 23-18-0 against the run line and have a 17-21-3 over/under record. They cover the spread 56% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 20-20 record, including 7-13 on the road. Starting pitcher Danny Duffy has a 0-0 record with an earned run average of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.19. He has 26 strikeouts over his 21 innings pitched and he has given up 18 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7.7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 2.24. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.64 and they have given up 121 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .231 against the bullpen while being struck out 140 times and walking 45 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.41 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.26 batters per nine. They are 15th in the league in team earned run average at 3.91. The Royals pitchers have collectively given up 329 base hits and 153 earned runs. They have allowed 42 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a pitching staff has walked 146 batters and struck out 323. They walk 3.7 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.3 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.35 and their FIP as a unit is 4.18.

As a team, Kansas City is batting .253, good for 14th in the league while putting together a .258 average away from home. The Royals hold a .390 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .305 which is good for 24th in baseball. They rank 14th in baseball with 8.53 hits per game. Eric Hosmer comes into this game hitting .327 and his on-base percentage is at .388. He has 49 hits this season along with 21 runs scored and 20 runs batted in. He's struck out 28 times and has walked 15 times. Alcides Escobar is hitting .263 and he has an on-base percentage of .298. He has totaled 45 hits so far while scoring 15 runs and he's driven in 12. He has walked 8 times and has struck out 24 times. The Royals have 341 hits, including 62 doubles and 37 home runs. They've stolen 30 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 9 times. Kansas City has walked 91 times this season and they've struck out 278 times as a unit. They've left 260 men on base and have a team OPS of .695. They score 3.6 runs per contest and have scored a total of 144 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 11-7 home record and a 25-16 overall mark. With an earned run average of 5.17, Miguel Gonzalez has a 0-0 record and a 1.85 WHIP. He has 11 strikeouts over the 15.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 19 hits. He has allowed 10.9 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.46. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.80 and they have given up 87 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .211 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 103 times and walking 43 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 7.87 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.7 batters per nine. They are 4th in the league in team earned run average at 3.19. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 321 base knocks and 130 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 36 home runs this year and they give up 0.9 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 122 hitters and struck out 314. They give up a walk 3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.7 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.21 while their FIP as a staff is 3.76.

As a team, they are batting .252, good for 15th in the league while putting together a .237 average at home. The White Sox hold a .397 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .325 which is good for 10th in baseball. They rank 13th in baseball with 8.59 hits per contest. Adam Eaton comes into this matchup batting .310 and he has an OBP of .402. He has 49 hits this year along with 19 runs scored and 14 RBI. He's struck out 18 times and has walked on 19 occasions. Melky Cabrera is hitting .294 and he has an OBP of .365. He has collected 45 hits so far while he's scored 20 runs and drove in 15. He has earned a walk 17 times and has punched out 15 times. The White Sox as a unit have 352 base hits, including 69 doubles and 37 homers. They have 15 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 10 times. Chicago as a team has walked 139 times this year and they have struck out 315 times. They've had 295 men left on base and have an OPS of .722. They score 4.34 runs per game and have totaled 178 runs so far this season.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 14-23-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 20-20-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago White Sox Betting Trends

The Chicago White Sox are 17-21-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago White Sox are 23-18-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

05/20/16 3B Mike Moustakas Hand 15-day DL (5/5); expected to activated Saturday vs. Chicago White Sox
05/12/16 P Chris Young Forearm 15-day DL (5/9)
05/12/16 P Kris Medlen Shoulder 15-day DL (5/10)
04/10/16 P Mike Minor Shoulder 60-day DL (3/15)
04/04/16 P Tim Collins Elbow 60-day DL; out for season
03/31/16 P Jason Vargas Elbow 60-day DL (3/15)

Chicago White Sox

05/06/16 P Jacob Petricka Hip 15-day DL (5/2)
04/27/16 C Kevan Smith Pelvis 15-day DL (4/24)

Guy's Pick: Take the Royals

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