Chicago Cubs vs
Kansas City RoyalsPredictions & Preview

Chicago Cubs to Face Kansas City Royals in Interleague Series Opener at Kauffman Stadium

In the first game of a three-game interleague series, the Chicago Cubs are set to face off against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Friday night. Both teams are well-rested from their Thursday off. The Cubs, currently last in the NL Central with a 49-55 record, will have left-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks (ERA: 6.69) on the mound. The Royals, sitting at third in the AL Central with a 56-47 record, will start right-hander Brady Singer (ERA: 3). Despite opening as the betting favorite at -145, Kansas City's current line stands at -141 for the matchup.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cubs +129 | Royals -141
• Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-160) | Royals -1.5 (+140)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Kansas City will win straight-up is 59%.

Chicago vs Kansas City Stats

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have been struggling throughout the season, with their recent tough loss to the Milwaukee Brewers highlighting their offensive struggles. The team went 6-for-32 at the plate, with Seiya Suzuki providing the only extra-base hits, including a solo home run. The Cubs struggled with runners in scoring position and left five runners on base. Pitcher Justin Steele had a solid outing, going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs in a no-decision. With righty Kyle Hendricks set to start the next game, his 2-8 record and high ERA of 6.69, along with his struggles keeping the ball in the park, are concerning. Despite their struggles, the Cubs are ranked 24th in offense, 11th in defense, and have a record of 49-55 for the season.

Kansas City Royals Analysis

The Kansas City Royals recently suffered a tough 8-6 home loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing five runs in the top of the ninth inning. While the lineup performed well, going 12-of-36 with three walks and four strikeouts, they struggled with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. Pitcher Michael Wacha had a tough outing, giving up three runs in 4.2 innings. However, right-hander Brady Singer has been performing well with a 6-6 record, 3.00 ERA, and 1.22 WHIP. He is coming off a winning effort against the Chicago White Sox. The Royals have a power ranking of 6 and are ranked #12 for offense and #4 for defense. In their last three matchups, Chicago went 1-2 against Kansas City.

Kansas City Royals Outperform Chicago Cubs in Latest MLB Rankings

In comparing the two teams, the Kansas City Royals exhibit stronger performance than the Chicago Cubs this season. The Cubs are currently ranked 22nd in the Major Leagues alongside the Tampa Bay Rays with a team OPS of .685, whereas the Royals rank 12th with a team OPS of .717. Kyle Hendricks, the starting pitcher for the Cubs, has had a challenging season with a record of 2-8, 7.52 ERA, and 1.57 WHIP in 13 starts, indicating potential struggles ahead. In contrast, Brady Singer of the Royals has shown more promising performance. Therefore, it is recommended to favor the Kansas City Royals to win the upcoming series-opening game against the struggling Chicago Cubs at home.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]