Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, 7/28/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City Royals

Date: Sunday, July 28, 2024

Location: Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO

TV: Bally Sports Kansas City

The Kansas City Royals (56-47) will go up against the Chicago Cubs (49-55) at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday. The pitchers taking the mound are Javier Assad and Cole Ragans.

Chicago has a slugging rate of .375 and have struck out 917 times, while drawing a walk on 349 occasions. They have earned 399 RBI's as well as 805 hits on the campaign, and their team batting average is sitting at .233. The Cubs have accrued 154 doubles as a unit and have hit 102 baseballs out of the park. They have a total of 424 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .310. As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are notching 4.1 runs per game, which has them sitting at 24th in MLB.

Get all of our MLB Betting Picks

The Cubs have a team earned run average of 3.70 so far this year (6th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 899 hitters. Cubs pitchers have allowed 108 long balls in addition to 434 runs in total (14th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 320 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 3.88 as a unit so far this year. Chicago has conceded 826 hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and also 378 earned runs. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.81 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.25.

The Cubs relievers have accumulated a save rate of 54.8% and has entered the game in 87 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 149 base runners over the course of the season with 31.5% of those runners ended up scoring. Cubs pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 101 times as well as having 122 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have dispatched 315 relievers to the mound on the campaign. The relievers have recorded 44 holds so far this year (26th in MLB). They have earned 23 saves so far this year and have blown 19 of their 42 chances to save the game.

The Cubs have converted 70.1% of balls in play into outs in their 8,271 innings on the field, which ranks them 11th in MLB. The Chicago Cubs are sitting with 2,757 putouts on the year, as well as 834 assists and 53 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .985 which is 15th in professional baseball, and have accumulated 59 double plays.

Assad (11-8 mark in his career) holds a FIP of 3.05 while he has faced 1,001 opposing hitters during his time in the major leagues. He has allowed 209 hits (8.0 hits per nine innings) and has 102 walks. His earned run average is 3.10 (81 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.322. Assad has taken the ball for 235 frames and has accounted for 205 strikeouts so far in his career.

The Kansas City Royals are sitting with a team OBP of .309 in addition to a batting average of .250 so far this season. They have been rung up on 701 occasions (30th in baseball) and have 855 base hits. Kansas City has 105 home runs this season as well as 463 runs batted in. The Royals have a slugging percentage of .408 and they earn 4.63 runs per contest (11th in the league). They have notched 169 two-baggers, while walking 274 times as well as putting up 477 runs.

The Kansas City pitching staff have surrendered 403 runs for the year and come in with a team ERA of 3.76 (377 earned runs relinquished). They have conceded 96 home runs and they allow 4.02 runs per 9 innings (6th in baseball). The Royals have a team WHIP of 1.262 in addition to having a FIP of 3.85 as a team so far this year. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.30 (828 strikeouts vs 308 walks). They are currently ranked 16th in MLB as a staff in total hits allowed with 830.

Kansas City bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 25.6% out of 133 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 92 times in high leverage situations in addition to 75 occasions with runners on base. With 87 save situations, the Royals have 49 holds and also 13 blown saves. They rank 11th in MLB with a save percentage of 64.9%, and they have dispatched 320 relievers onto the field on the season. Kansas City has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the mound in 37 save opportunities and they have walked away with 24 saves.

The Kansas City Royals have gotten 78 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .987 (8th in pro baseball). The Royals have accrued 931 assists, 49 errors and have notched a total of 2,706 putouts during this campaign. Out of their 8,118 innings played, the Royals are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 69.8% (16th in baseball).

In his MLB career, Ragans has surrendered 214 base hits while accumulating 286 strikeouts in 258 frames. He has allowed 103 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.204 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.5. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.95 and he has faced 1,068 opposing batters in his MLB career. Ragans (14-14 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a 3.59 ERA while surrendering 7.5 hits per nine innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Kansas City

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here