Kansas City Royals vs Chicago Predictions August 18, 2023: C. Ragans vs J. Taillon

Chicago Cubs Analysis

The Cubs have come back into playoff contention due to the offensive production of their lineup. Cody Bellinger is slashing .327/.379/.554 with 18 home runs and 186 total bases. Christopher Morel is slashing .260/.327/.516 with 19 home runs and 145 total bases. Mike Tauchman, Patrick Wisdom, and Dansby Swanson have also added to their already dynamic offense by contributing 38 home runs and 294 total bases between them. As a whole, the team is averaging 5.03 runs per game and 6.07 since August. The team's power ranking is 8 and they rank #5 in offense, #17 in defense, and have an overall record of 62-58. Despite Jameson Taillon's recent difficulties on the mound allowing 71 runs in 104 innings pitched, the Cubs' offense has made them tough to beat.

Cubs Likely To Secure Dominant Victory Over Royals in Road Matchup

The Royals are on the road looking to secure an upset win, but the Cubs have been performing at a high level and appear poised to control the game from the start. Cody Bellinger, Christopher Morel, and others have proven to be reliable run producers, averaging 5.03 runs per game. The Royals’ lineup, with an average of 4.02 runs per game, face a difficult task against Jameson Taillon, who is expected to keep them in check with multiple solid innings before handing the game off to the bullpen. Given the performance of both teams thus far, the Cubs seem likely to win and cover the spread with a dominant victory at home.

My Prediction: Cubs -1.5 (+114) to cover

Written by Roycejacobs Published on 08/17/2023 Category: MLB Picks

About the Author: Finance major and sports betting aficionado who honed their skills on fantasy sports. I bring years of analytical and stats experience to sports betting. Follow me this year as I pick the bookies apart and share my picks with my followers. Let's Go!