The Chicago White Sox (56-54) and Kansas City Royals (45-66) meet Wednesday for the 3rd game of a 4-game set at Kauffman Stadium. First pitch is slated for 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the White Sox vs. Royals odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Chicago leads 7-6 after a split of a Tuesday doubleheader.
The White Sox have pitched their way to a 10-6 record over their last 16 games. Chicago hurlers own a fine 2.96 ERA over that span.
The Royals are 4-2 on a current home stand and 11-6 over their last 17 games at home. K.C. pitching has logged a 3.00 ERA over those 17 games.
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White Sox at Royals projected starters
RHP Johnny Cueto vs. LHP Kris Bubic
Cueto (4-5, 2.91 ERA) has made 14 starts and 1 relief appearance. He has a 1.19 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 6.0 K/9 through 96 IP.
- Has notched a 2.25 ERA over his last 5 starts.
- Coming off a 106-pitch effort at the Texas Rangers Thursday in his last turn.
Bubic (2-6, 5.27 ERA) owns a 1.54 WHIP, 4.5 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9 through 80 1/3 IP across 18 games (17 starts).
- Owns a 3.49 ERA over his last 5 starts against the White Sox over the last 3 seasons.
- Current Chicago bats own an aggregate career .591 OPS against him.
- Had a 7.45 ERA heading into July but has notched a 3.24 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over his last 7 starts.
White Sox at Royals odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:15 p.m. ET.
- Money line: White Sox -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Royals +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): White Sox -1.5 (+115) | Royals +1.5 (-140)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -125 | U: +100)
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White Sox at Royals picks and predictions
Prediction
Royals 5, White Sox 4
Money line
These starters have suffered opposite fates in an area left open to much luck and that’s their performance with runners in scoring position. Cueto has an 82.5% success rate in stranding those runners as opposing batters have hit .264 off him with a .225 batting average on balls in play. With Bubic, those corresponding figures are 67.5%, .351, and .340. The difference makes for some baked-in bias not based so much on talent.
The starter leverage fits in with some general team leans toward Kansas City in run differentials versus won-loss record.
The ROYALS (+120) are the LEAN here, but I’d pass if the tag were any cheaper than that.
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Run line/Against the spread
Cueto has been buoyed by a low home run/fly ball rate — another luck indicator — over his last 5 turns, and the White Sox own a strikeout-heavy .615 OPS over their last 6 road games.
BACK THE ROYALS +1.5 (-140).
Over/Under
Batting and pitching figures — expected vs. actual — crisscross in multiple key areas. It’s best to AVOID this play.
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