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The Chicago White Sox (27-71) and Kansas City Royals (52-45) open a 3-game set at Kauffman Stadium Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the White Sox vs. Royals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Royals lead 6-1
The White Sox were swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 3-game weekend series in Chicago before the All-Star break. They’ve lost 4 games in a row and haven’t won a series since taking 2 of 3 against the Colorado Rockies at Guaranteed Rate Field June 28-30.
The Royals were flat heading into the break, dropping 2 of 3 games at the Boston Red Sox July 12-14. SS Bobby Witt Jr. outperformed expectations at the Home Run Derby, though. After entering tied for the 4th-longest odds to win (+500 at BetMGM Sportsbook), he lost by just 1 HR in the final to Los Angeles Dodgers CF Teoscar Hernández.
White Sox at Royals projected starters
RHP Chris Flexen vs. RHP Michael Wacha
Flexen (2-8, 4.82 ERA) makes his 19th start and 21st appearance. He has a 1.37 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 6.6 K/9 in 97 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 6-2 home defeat vs. Pirates Saturday
- 2024 road stats: 1-3, 4.86 ERA (37 IP, 20 ER), 1.22 WHIP, 7.1 K/9 in 8 appearances (6 starts)
- 2024 vs. Royals: 0-1, 4.26 ERA (6 1/3 IP, 3 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 1 start, a 3-0 road loss April 6
- Career vs. Royals: 2-1, 2.25 ERA (20 IP, 5 ER), 1.10 WHIP, 5.4 K/9 in 4 appearances (3 starts)
Wacha (6-6, 3.83 ERA) makes his 17th start. He has a 1.24 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 in 89 1/3 IP.
- Last start: Win, 5 IP, 3 ER (4 R), 7 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 8-5 victory at St. Louis Cardinals July 10
- 2024 home stats: 3-1, 3.49 ERA (38 2/3 IP, 15 ER), 1.32 WHIP, 7.9 K/9 in 7 starts
- 2024 vs. White Sox: 1-1, 1.38 ERA (13 IP, 2 ER), 0.69 WHIP, 8.3 K/9 in 2 starts
- Career vs. White Sox: 3-1, 3.89 ERA (39 1/3 IP, 17 ER), 1.07 WHIP, 9.4 K/9 in 7 starts
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
White Sox at Royals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:03 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): White Sox +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Royals -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): White Sox +1.5 (-115) | Royals -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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White Sox at Royals picks and predictions
Prediction
Royals 6, White Sox 4
Moneyline
The Royals (-210) have won 6 of 7 against the White Sox this season and have a sizable advantage at starting pitcher Friday. However, it’s hard to beat MLB long term betting into sides that are -190 or higher.
PASS. Bet the run line and/or total instead.
Run line/Against the spread
The Royals are 14-11 as run-line favorites at home this season, good for the 2nd-best record in MLB. The White Sox, on the other hand, have the 2nd-worst record in the majors as run-line underdogs on the road (20-26).
Flexen is the least profitable pitcher in MLB this season, according to OddsShark.com. If you were to bet $100 on White Sox ML every time Flexen started this season, you would be down $1,215. The White Sox have also lost 15 of his 20 appearances this year by 2 or more runs.
Wacha has been trending upwards after losing 4 of his 1st 5 decisions to start the season. He’s won back-to-back starts, and the Royals won both outings by multiple runs.
BET ROYALS -1.5 (-105).
Over/Under
The Royals have the 2nd-best home offense in MLB, averaging 5.16 runs per game, and should bounce back after scoring a total of just 4 runs over their final 2 outings before the break. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re facing Flexen, who has allowed 6 or more runs in 3 of his last 4 road starts.
BET OVER 8.5 (-120).
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