Sunday, May 22, 2016

U.S. Cellular Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Yordano Ventura vs. Carlos Rodon

The Kansas City Royals visit U.S. Cellular Field on Sunday to play the Chicago White Sox. The probable starters are Yordano Ventura for the Royals and Carlos Rodon for the White Sox. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at +100 and Chicago at -110. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Royals have a 14-25-3 over/under record and a 21-21-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 50% of the time. The White Sox are 24-19-0 against the run line and have a 17-23-3 over/under record. They cover the spread 56% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 22-20 record, including 9-13 on the road. Starting pitcher Yordano Ventura has a 4-2 record with an earned run average of 4.85 and a WHIP of 1.55. He has 31 strikeouts over his 42.2 innings pitched and he has given up 37 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7.8 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.34. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.55 and they have given up 126 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .227 against the bullpen while being struck out 149 times and walking 50 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.35 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.3 batters per nine. They are 12th in the league in team earned run average at 3.84. The Royals pitchers have collectively given up 335 base hits and 154 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 149 batters and struck out 333. They walk 3.7 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.3 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.34 and their FIP as a unit is 4.12.

As a team, Kansas City is batting .255, good for 13th in the league while putting together a .261 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 12th in baseball with 8.61 hits per game. Eric Hosmer comes into this game hitting .318 and his on-base percentage is at .379. He has 49 hits this season along with 21 runs scored and 20 runs batted in. He's struck out 29 times and has walked 15 times. Alcides Escobar is hitting .267 and he has an on-base percentage of .301. He has totaled 47 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 353 hits, including 65 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 285 times as a unit. They've left 267 men on base and have a team OPS of .696. They score 3.61 runs per contest and have scored a total of 148 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 11-9 home record and a 25-18 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.73, Carlos Rodon has a 1-4 record and a 1.47 WHIP. He has 47 strikeouts over the 45.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 50 hits. He has allowed 9.9 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.49. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.67 and they have given up 93 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .215 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 105 times and walking 45 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 7.97 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.68 batters per nine. They are 4th in the league in team earned run average at 3.21. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 333 base knocks and 134 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 321. They give up a walk 2.9 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 3.70.

As a team, they are batting .251, good for 15th in the league while putting together a .235 average at home. The White Sox hold a .392 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .324 which is good for 11th in baseball. They rank 14th in baseball with 8.52 hits per contest. Adam Eaton comes into this matchup batting .307 and he has an OBP of .397. He has 50 hits this year along with 19 runs scored and 14 RBI. He's struck out 19 times and has walked on 19 occasions. Melky Cabrera is hitting .299 and he has an OBP of .368. He has collected 47 hits so far while he's scored 21 runs and drove in 15. He has earned a walk 17 times and has punched out 16 times. The White Sox as a unit have 358 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 142 times this year and they have struck out 325 times. They've had 304 men left on base and have an OPS of .716. They score 4.26 runs per game and have totaled 179 runs so far this season.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 14-25-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 21-21-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago White Sox Betting Trends

The Chicago White Sox are 17-23-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago White Sox are 24-19-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

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

05/21/16 RF Avisail Garcia Rest is not expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday vs. Kansas City Royals
05/06/16 P Jacob Petricka Hip 15-day DL (5/2)
04/27/16 C Kevan Smith Pelvis 15-day DL (4/24)

Tony's Pick: Take the White Sox

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