At 2:10 PM ET, the Cubs and Royals will face off in an interleague matchup. This one is taking place at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, and the Royals are the heavy favorites on the money line, with their odds sitting at -171. The money line odds for a Cubs win are at +145, and their record is 50-56, which has them in 5th place in the NL Central. The Royals are 3rd in the AL Central with an overall record of 57-48.
Chicago is starting Javier Assad, while the Royals have Cole Ragans on the mound. The over/under line is at 8.5 runs, and the forecast for Sunday's game in Kansas City calls for temperatures in the low 80s with scattered clouds.
Chicago vs. Kansas City Matchup At A Glance
- Teams: Cubs at Royals
- Where: Kauffman Stadium Kansas City
- Date: Sunday, July 28th
- Betting Odds KC -171 | CHC +145 O/U 8.5
Cubs vs Royals Last Game Recap
Chicago cruised to a 9-4 win over the Royals in the most recent game of this series. The Cubs had a huge 1st inning, scoring two of their nine runs. As for the Royals, they scored their first run in the 2nd and added their final three runs in the 6th.
Shota Imanaga only went 5 2/3 innings for the Cubs but gave up just three hits and three earned runs. He finished the game with three strikeouts but didn't issue a walk. Julian Merryweather got the win out of the bullpen. As for the Royals, Seth Lugo had a rough outing, giving up six runs in 6 1/3 innings of work.
At the plate, the Cubs were led by Seiya Suzuki and Patrick Wisdom, who each homered. Suzuki, Mike Tauchman, and Hunter Renfroe each had two hits and two RBIs for Chicago's offense.
Cubs Preview
Chicago has struggled on the road this season, with a 23-31 record away from home. They are currently 5th in the NL Central, 10 games behind the Brewers, and have lost two straight series. The Cubs have an overall series record of 11-19-3 this year.
When the Cubs win, they win big, with an average run margin of 3.3 runs per game, but they have an average loss margin of 3.2 runs. Against the run line, they are 51-55, including a 32-22 mark on the road. The over/under record for games with an 8.5 run line is 12-13, and the Cubs' overall O/U record is 44-58.
Right-hander Javier Assad gets the start for the Cubs today as he faces the Royals on the road. He has made 18 starts this year and has a record of 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA. One of the biggest issues for Assad has been his control, as he is averaging 4.16 walks per nine innings compared to 8.22 strikeouts. Assad's most recent outing came on July 22nd, where he finished with a no-decision after giving up no earned runs in 3 1/3 innings of work. He has not given up more than four earned runs in any of his last four outings.
Chicago's offense has been one of the worst in the league this season, averaging just 4.1 runs per game, which is 24th in the majors. They are also near the bottom of the league in team batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. However, the Cubs do have the 6th most walks in the league. As a team, they are batting just .232 and have a collective on-base percentage of .310.
Christopher Morel and Ian Happ have been the team's top power hitters this season, with 18 and 16 home runs, respectively. Happ's 60 RBIs are the best mark on the team and 15th in the league. Nico Hoerner has been a solid all-around hitter for the Cubs, batting .251 with an OBP of .328.
Royals Preview
At home, the Royals have been solid straight-up favorites, posting a 22-10 record. Overall, they are 36-21 at home. Against the run line, they have a 34-23 record at home and 60-45 overall. As underdogs, they have a 34-22 run line record.
Heading into today's game, the Royals are 5-5 in their last 10 games and have an overall series record of 15-17-1. They are currently 3rd in the AL Central, 5.5 games behind the Guardians, with a 57-48 record.
Kansas City is sending left-hander Cole Ragans to the mound today vs. the Cubs. He has made 21 starts this season and has a record of 7-6 with an ERA of 3.23. Ragans' WHIP for the season is 1.15, and opponents are batting .214 off him this year. In his 21 appearances, he has turned in 15 quality starts and is averaging 10.71 strikeouts per nine innings. Ragans' last outing came on July 22nd vs. the Diamondbacks, where he picked up the win, going six innings and giving up three earned runs. He has won each of his last two starts.
Heading into today's game, the Royals offense is averaging 4.6 runs per game, which is 11th in the league. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .251, which is the 6th best mark in the league. The Royals are also the top team in the league in terms of fewest strikeouts per game.
Bobby Witt Jr. has been on a tear of late, going 15/28 in his last seven games with a home run and six RBIs. For the season, he is hitting .342 with 18 homers and 71 RBIs. Salvador Perez is also having a strong season at the plate, with a batting average of .277 and a team-high 19 homers. Perez has also driven in 70 runs, which is 2nd on the team and 7th in the league.
Cubs vs. Royals Prediction: Over 8.5 Runs -119
Our prediction for today's Cubs vs. Royals matchup is to take the over, with the line sitting at 8.5 runs. We actually have the Royals winning this one by a score of 5-4, but with the payout sitting at -171, we think there is more value in taking the over.
Looking at the starting pitchers, our projections have Javier Assad finishing with four strikeouts, which is the third lowest among today's starters. For the Royals, Cole Ragans is projected to finish with five strikeouts, which is the seventh lowest.
