Sunday, September 11, 2016

U.S. Cellular Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ian Kennedy vs. Chris Sale

The Kansas City Royals visit U.S. Cellular Field on Sunday to play the Chicago White Sox. The probable starters are Ian Kennedy for the Royals and Chris Sale for the White Sox. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at +148 and Chicago at -158. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Royals have a 62-70-8 over/under record and a 76-64-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 54% of the time. The White Sox are 70-70-0 against the run line and have a 65-68-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 50% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 72-68 record, including 30-43 on the road. Starting pitcher Ian Kennedy has a 10-9 record with an earned run average of 3.76 and a WHIP of 1.21. He has 160 strikeouts over his 165.1 innings pitched and he has given up 148 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.1 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.79. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.18 and they have given up 412 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .237 against the bullpen while being struck out 434 times and walking 152 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.78 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.08 batters per nine. They are 9th in the league in team earned run average at 4.05. The Royals pitchers have collectively given up 1,213 base hits and 559 earned runs. They have allowed 181 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a pitching staff has walked 423 batters and struck out 1,116. They walk 3.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.1 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.32 and their FIP as a unit is 4.39.

As a team, Kansas City is batting .262, good for 8th in the league while putting together a .250 average away from home. The Royals hold a .400 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .314 which is good for 24th in baseball. They rank 8th in baseball with 9 hits per game. Alcides Escobar comes into this game hitting .269 and his on-base percentage is at .299. He has 152 hits this season along with 52 runs scored and 48 runs batted in. He's struck out 80 times and has walked 25 times. Eric Hosmer is hitting .273 and he has an on-base percentage of .336. He has totaled 145 hits so far while scoring 73 runs and he's driven in 88. He has walked 52 times and has struck out 116 times. The Royals have 1,259 hits, including 231 doubles and 127 home runs. They've stolen 102 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 30 times. Kansas City has walked 340 times this season and they've struck out 1,050 times as a unit. They've left 924 men on base and have a team OPS of .714. They score 4.14 runs per contest and have scored a total of 580 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 38-30 home record and a 68-72 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.07, Chris Sale has a 15-7 record and a 1.01 WHIP. He has 193 strikeouts over the 193.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 154 hits. He has allowed 7.2 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.4. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.67 and they have given up 396 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .249 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 390 times and walking 204 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 8.89 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.87 batters per nine. They are 12th in the league in team earned run average at 4.07. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,240 base knocks and 568 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 164 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 464 hitters and struck out 1,097. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.9 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.36 while their FIP as a staff is 4.33.

As a team, they are batting .256, good for 16th in the league while putting together a .260 average at home. The White Sox hold a .406 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .317 which is good for 21st in baseball. They rank 16th in baseball with 8.79 hits per contest. Melky Cabrera comes into this matchup batting .296 and he has an OBP of .347. He has 149 hits this year along with 59 runs scored and 69 RBI. He's struck out 62 times and has walked on 42 occasions. Jose Abreu is hitting .299 and he has an OBP of .350. He has collected 163 hits so far while he's scored 57 runs and drove in 89. He has earned a walk 35 times and has punched out 110 times. The White Sox as a unit have 1,229 base hits, including 237 doubles and 143 homers. They have 67 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 31 times. Chicago as a team has walked 399 times this year and they have struck out 1,117 times. They've had 963 men left on base and have an OPS of .723. They score 4.19 runs per game and have totaled 586 runs so far this season.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 62-70-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 76-64-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago White Sox Betting Trends

The Chicago White Sox are 65-68-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago White Sox are 70-70-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

09/10/16 CF Lorenzo Cain Wrist "?" Saturday vs. Chicago White Sox
09/09/16 C Salvador Perez Wrist "?" Saturday vs. Chicago White Sox
08/31/16 P Chien-Ming Wang Bicep 15-day DL (8/31)
08/31/16 P Edinson Volquez Finger "?" for next scheduled start
07/29/16 P Luke Hochevar Shoulder 60-day DL (7/25)
07/19/16 P Kris Medlen Shoulder 60-day DL (5/11)
05/26/16 3B Mike Moustakas Knee 60-day DL (5/23); out for season
04/10/16 P Mike Minor Shoulder 60-day DL (3/15); out for season
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

08/03/16 CF Charlie Tilson Hamstring 15-day DL (8/3)
07/27/16 2B Brett Lawrie Hamstring 15-day DL (7/22)
07/01/16 3B Matt Davidson Foot 60-day DL (6/30)
06/21/16 P Zach Putnam Elbow 15-day DL (6/21)
06/10/16 CF Austin Jackson Knee 15-day DL (6/10)
05/06/16 P Jacob Petricka Hip 60-day DL (5/2)

Tony's Pick: Take the Royals

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