Kansas City Royals vs
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Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs set to conclude series with matchup between Seth Lugo and Colin Rea

The Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs are set to conclude their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon. Seth Lugo will take the mound for the Royals, while Colin Rea will pitch for the Cubs. After a dominating win by the Royals in the series opener, the Cubs bounced back with a 6-0 victory on Tuesday. The question now is whether Rea can continue his strong performance for the Cubs. For the latest prediction on the Royals vs. Cubs matchup, be sure to check out our expert analysis.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Royals +126 | Cubs -148
• Spread: Royals +1.5 (-175) | Cubs -1.5 (+143)
• Total: Over/Under 10.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 60%.

Kansas City Royals

Seth Lugo is set to start on Wednesday, despite a recent shaky outing against the Marlins. Despite this, he has had an outstanding season with a 2.94 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Lugo has struggled against the Cubs in the past. The Kansas City Royals are wrapping up a road trip, following a series loss to the Mets and two defeats against the Marlins. Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. have been standouts for the Royals, with Pasquantino delivering 10 RBIs in July and Witt Jr. knocking in two runs in a recent game. Jonathan India has also been contributing, while Maikel Garcia is struggling this month. The Royals have a strong pitching staff with a 3.50 ERA, but they are currently averaging 3.51 runs per game, ranking them 29th in the league.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are opting to go with Colin Rea to conclude the series. Rea has been sharp in his recent outings, holding the Red Sox to just one run in five innings in his last start. The veteran righty has been containing the opposition well, conceding two or fewer runs in four of his past five outings. He currently boasts a 3.80 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP, along with an 8-3 record in 97 innings pitched. However, Rea has struggled against the Kansas City Royals in the past, surrendering eight runs in 9.1 career innings.

The Cubs are finishing a homestand in this game and are currently one game behind the Brewers in the division. They have recently had success against the Yankees and the Red Sox, with their pitching being a key factor in their victories. The offense, led by players like Kyle Tucker, Nico Hoerner, and Pete Crow-Armstrong, has been inconsistent at times. Seiya Suzuki, who had a strong showing against the Royals last year, did not record a hit in the series opener.

Overall, the Cubs are scoring an average of 5.27 runs per game, ranking them second in the league. Their pitching staff has a 3.88 ERA, placing them 14th in the league.

Kansas City Royals Struggle While Chicago Cubs Thrive in Recent MLB Action

The Kansas City Royals were unable to secure a victory in their recent series against the Miami Marlins. Despite being a competitive team, the Royals currently struggle offensively and rank among the lower-performing teams in the major leagues. In contrast, the Chicago Cubs have been performing well, winning four of their last six games leading into Tuesday evening.

During the series against the Marlins, Royals pitcher Seth Lugo faced a challenging outing, allowing five runs to score. Lugo has faced difficulties in his recent starts, giving up four home runs in the last two games. On the other hand, Cubs pitcher Colin Rea has demonstrated impressive performance, holding the Boston Red Sox to just one run in his previous start and only allowing four runs in his last 23.2 innings pitched. The Cubs have emerged victorious in five of Rea's last six appearances.

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