Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, 7/27/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City Royals

Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024

Location: Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO

TV: Marquee

The Kansas City Royals (56-47) will take on the Chicago Cubs (49-55) at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday. The pitchers taking the mound will be Shota Imanaga and Seth Lugo.

As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are recording 4.1 runs per game, which has them at 24th in MLB. They have 422 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .311. The Cubs have earned 153 two-baggers as a squad and have hit 101 balls out of the park. They have recorded 397 RBI's in addition to 799 hits so far this season, while their average at the plate comes in at .233. Chicago has a slugging rate of .376 and have struck out 911 times, while drawing a walk on 348 occasions.

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The Cubs have an earned run average of 3.71 this season (8th in the league), and their staff has rung up 890 hitters. Cubs pitchers have surrendered 108 home runs and 431 runs (15th in baseball). They have walked 316 opposing batters and their FIP is 3.89 as a unit so far this year. Chicago has conceded 816 base hits (8.1 per 9 innings) in addition to 375 earned runs. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.82 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.24.

The Cubs bullpen have a save percentage of 56.1% and stepped onto the hill in 86 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 147 runners over the course of the season and 31.3% of them crossed the plate. Cubs bullpen pitchers have come into the game with runners on 100 times as well as having 118 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have sent 311 relief pitchers to the hill so far this year. The relief pitchers have a total of 44 holds this year (26th in baseball). They have accumulated 23 saves this season and have blown 18 of their 41 save opportunities.

The Cubs have converted 70.2% of balls in play into outs out of 8,190 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 12th in MLB. The Chicago Cubs have a total of 2,730 putouts so far this season, in addition to 828 assists and 53 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .985 which puts them in 16th in professional baseball, and have earned 59 double plays.

Imanaga has thrown 104 innings and is sitting with 108 strikeouts so far in his career. Imanaga (8-2 mark in his career) sits with a FIP of 2.81 and he has gone up against 423 hitters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 2.86 (33 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.067. He has given up 94 hits (8.1 hits per nine innings) and has had 17 free passes.

Kansas City has accounted for 105 home runs on the campaign to go along with 458 RBIs. They have notched 167 two-baggers, while walking 271 times as well as scoring 471 runs. The Kansas City Royals are sitting with a team on-base percentage of .308 and a team batting average of .249 on the campaign. The Royals have a SLG% of .408 and they score 4.62 runs per game (12th in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 697 instances (29th in the league) and have earned 843 base knocks.

The Royals have a WHIP of 1.260 in addition to having a FIP of 3.79 as a team this year. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.30 (825 strikeouts vs 305 walks). They come in at 17th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 820. They have yielded 92 home runs and they concede 3.98 runs per 9 innings (6th in MLB). The Kansas City pitching staff have allowed 395 runs so far this year while holding a team ERA of 3.72 (369 earned runs surrendered).

Kansas City relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 26.0% of 131 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 88 times in high leverage situations and also on 74 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 84 save situations, the Royals have compiled 47 holds in addition to 12 blown saves. They are currently ranked 11th in MLB with a save percentage of 66.7%, and they have dispatched 316 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond on the season. Kansas City has had relief pitchers step onto the mound in 36 save opportunities and they have come away with 24 saves.

The Kansas City Royals have gotten 77 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .987 (8th in MLB). The Royals have recorded 920 assists, 49 errors and have accounted for 2,679 putouts on the season. In 8,037 innings on the diamond, the Royals have a defensive efficiency of 69.7% (17th in the majors).

In his pro baseball career, Lugo has conceded 690 hits while he has accumulated 770 strikeouts in 777 innings pitched. Lugo (52-35 career win-loss mark) has earned a 3.30 ERA and has surrendered 8.0 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered a total of 285 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.149 and having a FIP of 3.3. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.79 and he has faced 3,194 opposing hitters in his MLB career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago

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