Chicago White Sox Vs. Kansas City Royals (8/11/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction

Chicago is 56-54 through 110 games, third place in the American League Central.  The White Sox are +175 to win their division and +4500 to win their first World Series title since 2005.  They’ve made the playoffs three times since winning their last championship and have a 36.1% of making the 2022 postseason.

Through 111 games in 2022, Kansas City is 45-66, fourth place in the American League Central.  The Royals won the World Series in 2015, but they’ve not been to the playoffs since winning the second title in franchise history. 

Chicago White Sox Vs. Kansas City Royals Betting Odds

Under is 7-0 in Dylan Cease’s last seven road starts vs. a team with a losing record.  The White Sox are 6-0 in their last six during game four of a series.  Chicago is 5-17 in their last 22 Thursday games.  Under is 5-1 in the White Sox last six games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Royals are 6-13 in their last 19 during game four of a series.  Under is 12-3-1 in Kansas City’s last 16 Thursday games.  The Royals are 8-17 in their last 25 home games vs. a team with a winning record.  Under is 4-0 in Kansas City’s last four vs. a team with a winning record.

Chicago White Sox Starting Lineup

LF A.J. Pollock R
CF L. Robert R
DH E. Jimenez R
1B J. Abreu R
RF A. Vaughn R
3B Y. Moncada S
C Y. Grandal S
SS L. Garcia S
2B J. Harrison R

Chicago White Sox Vs. Zack Greinke (R)

Jose Abreu, the 2020 American League MVP has gone over 100 runs batted in, six times in his career.  This season he leads the club in doubles (27), home runs (14), runs batted in (55), total bases (192), OBP (.375) and OPS (.839).  Additionally, the first baseman is tied for the club lead in slugging percentage at .464 in 2022. Abreu is hitting .297; 123 hits overall and has scored 60 runs this year. 

Tim Anderson leads the club in hitting with a .301 average.  He’s hit six home runs, knocked in 25 runs with an OPS of .739.  The shortstop is on the 10-day injury list, and he’ll be missed from the lineup.   

Andrew Vaughn is tied for second on the club in batting average (.298) this year.  He’s third on the team in home runs (11) and runs batted in (52).  He’s tied for the club lead in slugging percentage (.464), second in OPS (.812) and total bases (156) in 2022.

Luis Robert is hitting .298; tied for second on the White Sox with 12 home runs and a team leading 56 runs batted in this year.  Robert has 146 total bases with a slugging percentage of .453 and an OPS of .839, which leads Chicago in 2022.    

This season, Zack Greinke is 3-7 in 18 starts with a 4.58 ERA.  He’s struck out 52 batters in 92 1/3 innings with a 1.332 WHIP in 2022.  Greinke has a career record of 9-10 against the White Sox with a 3.94 ERA, 161 strikeouts in 182 2/3 innings.

Kansas City Royals Starting Lineup

LF M.J. Melendez L
SS B. Witt R
C S. Perez R
DH V. Pasquantino L
3B H. Dozier R
1B N. Pratto L
CF M. Taylor R
RF K. Isbel L
2B N. Lopez L

Kansas City Royals Vs. Opposing Pitcher

Catchers Salvador Perez and MJ Melendez are two of the Royals most productive hitters this season.  Perez, a member of Kansas City’s 2015 World Champions leads the club in home runs with 16 this season.  The 32-year-old is second on the Royals in runs batted in with 48, while leading the club in slugging percentage (.449).  Melendez has hit 14 doubles, two triple and 13 home runs: third on Kansas City this campaign.  Additionally, he’s driven in 38 runs with a .431 slugging percentage and an OPS of .746 in 2022.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been impressive during his rookie season, placing second on the club in home runs with 15 and leading the team in runs batted in with 56. He also has hit 19 doubles, five triples and stolen 21 bases in 2022.  The 22-year-old has a .442 slugging percentage and an OPS of .737 this season.  Witt is +800 to win the American League Rookie of the Year this season.

Hunter Dozier has hit 10 home runs and knocked in 35 runs this season.  Additionally, he’s accumulated 141 total bases with a .411 slugging percentage and an OPS of .720 in 2022.

In 2022, Dylan Cease has been fantastic going 12-4 in 22 starts with a sparkling 1.98 ERA.    He’s struck out 166 batters in 122 2/3 innings with a 1.158 WHIP this season.  Cease has a career record of 34-22 with a 3.69 ERA, 517 strikeouts in 419 2/3 innings.

Chicago White Sox Vs. Kansas City Royals Picks & Prediction

The White Sox are averaging 4.31 runs per nine innings, 20^th overall in MLB.  They have a team batting average of .257, fifth in the league, and their OPS is .696, 20^th overall in baseball.  Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 4.43 runs per nine innings, 18^th in MLB with opponents’ batting .246 against the club, 16^th in the league.    

 Kansas City is averaging 4.01 runs per nine innings, 24^th in Major League Baseball. They have a team batting average of .246, 13^th in the league, and their OPS is .690, 22^nd in all of MLB.  The Royals’ pitching staff is allowing 5.13 runs per nine innings, 27^th in the league with opponents’ batting .265 against the team, 28^th in MLB. 

I’ll go with the White Sox as the favorite on the road, winning this game by over 1.5 runs behind starter Cease who has an ERA under two with a dozen victories, as the clubs combine for under eight runs.