It’s the conclusion of a three-game AL Central series from the South Side of Chicago on Wednesday night as the White Sox turn to Reynaldo Lopez against the Kansas City Royals. The Sox will be favored on the MLB odds.
Royals vs White Sox MLB Lines, Game Info & Betting Analysis
- When: Wednesday, 8:10 PM ET
- Where: Guaranteed Rate Field
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: Kansas City / Chicago
- Opening MLB Lines: TBA
- Probable pitchers (away/home): TBA/Reynaldo Lopez
Why Bet on Kansas City?
The Royals’ 22 triples lead the major leagues and are 22 more than both Cleveland and Miami, who have yet to record a three-base hit this year. Adalberto Mondesi leads MLB withy seven. The Royals boast eight players with at least one triple, while there are 18 teams who have fewer than eight as a squad. KC is on a pace for 69 triples this season. Mondesi is on pace for 128 RBI this season, which would be the third-most in franchise history, behind Hal McRae (133 in 1982) and Mike Sweeney (144 in 2000). The the last shortstop to record more than 128 RBI in a season was Miguel Tejada (150) with the Baltimore Orioles in 2004.
The Royals have recorded at least one extra-base hit in 51 of their 52 games this season, while their 165 for the year ranks eighth in the American League. Individually, Whit Merrifield is tied for third in the AL with 27 extra-base hits, just one behind the league leaders, while Hunter Dozier and Jorge Soler are tied for ninth in the Junior Circuti with 25 apiece.
We don’t know who is starting for the Royals and probably won’t until Wednesday. Their rotation is in shambles right now, both because it’s struggling as a whole and because the team has had a very unusual schedule. The Royals played a doubleheader both last Wednesday in St. Louis and Saturday at home vs. the New York Yankees. Then, they had to resume a game suspended from Monday on Tuesday before playing Game 2 of this series against the White.
So, the team surely will either use an opener or bullpen-by-committee on Wednesday. Could be either Heath Fillmyer or Brian Flynn. The Royals sent Fillmyer back to Triple-A last week. Fillmyer had been called up as an additional bullpen arm, but he was sent down in order to start. His last start came last Wednesday for Omaha. Flynn recently returned to the major-league club after having been on the injured list. He’s served as the long man out of the bullpen previously, but he’d been stretched out as a starter during his rehab stint in the minors. Reliever Glenn Sparkman is another possibility.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Runs: 4.51
- Hits: 8.19
- Walks: 3.25
- Strike Outs: 8.58
- Runs: 5.30
- Hits: 9.149
- Walks: 3.87
- Strike Outs: 7.72
Why Bet on Chicago White Sox?
Outfielder Jon Jay (groin) expects to head out on a minor league rehab assignment soon. Jay met up with the White Sox on Monday morning for a checkup with a team doctor. He has been out all season with a severe groin strain.
“I’m going to get reevaluated here, probably work out with the guys a couple days and see what happens,” he said. “Hopefully [a rehab] soon. I’m good. I’m dying to go out there and play some baseball, which is what I love to do. We’re definitely taking the right steps.”
Shortstop Tim Anderson is 18-48 (.375) with two homers, five RBI, a .933 OPS and six multi-hit efforts in his last 13 games. His eight three-hit eff orts in 2019 have surpassed his 2018 total (five).
The White Sox are 18-0 when leading after seven innings, 18-0 when leading after eight, 22-6 when scoring four-plus runs and 15-1 when holding the opposition to three runs or less. The Sox are 10-12 (83.3 percent) in save situations. Alex Colomé is 9-9 in save chances this year, and owns a 1.23 ERA (2 ER/14.2 IP) in his last 15 games (13 scoreless and hitless).
It’s Reynaldo Lopez on the mound. Lopez (3-5) took the loss in Friday’s 11-4 rout by the Twins, coughing up eight runs on seven hits — including three home runs — and two walks over 3.2 innings while striking out three. The right-hander gave up runs in every inning, and his streak of three straight quality starts ended with a massive thud. He also was touched up for three home runs, giving him 13 allowed in 53 2/3 innings. He has three quality starts in five May starts. Lopez has a 6.03 ERA and 57:27 K:BB through 59.2 innings overall.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Runs: 4.19
- Hits: 8.40
- Walks: 2.57
- Strike Outs: 9.70
- Runs: 5.23
- Hits: 8.58
- Walks: 3.92
- Strike Outs: 8.06
Royals vs White Sox MLB Betting Trends
- White Sox are 5-1 in Lopez’s last 6 home starts vs. Royals
- White Sox are 7-2 in Lopez’s last 9 starts vs. Royals
- The total went UNDER in 8 of the White Sox’s last 10 games
- Over is 6-2-1 in Lopez’s last 9 starts vs. Royals
- Royals are 14-49 in their last 63 during game 3 of a series
- Royals are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games
- The total went OVER in 5 of the Royals’ last 6 games
Expert Prediction for Royals vs White Sox
White Sox 7, Royals 5
