The Kansas City Royals (80-67) are the underdogs on the moneyline (-105) in Friday’s contest with the Pittsburgh Pirates (70-76). Game time is set for 6:40 p.m. ET on BSKC. The Royals are favored against the spread in this one (1.5) with +158 odds.
Pittsburgh’s Luis Ortiz gets the start, and he’ll go against Kansas City’s Alec Marsh.
Pirates vs. Royals Odds
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Game Time and Information
Who Will Win Pirates vs. Royals?
Pirates and Royals Betting Trends
The Pirates are 33-25 in games they were listed as the moneyline favorite (winning 56.9% of those games).
Pittsburgh has gone 32-24 (winning 57.1% of its games) when it has played as moneyline favorites of -114 or shorter.
This season, the Royals have won 34 out of the 75 games, or 45.3%, in which they’ve been the underdog.
Kansas City has a record of 29-38 in games where bookmakers have it as underdogs of at least -105 on the moneyline.
The Pirates have played in 146 games with over/under set, and have combined with opponents to go over the total 72 times (72-72-2).
The Royals and their opponents have hit the over in 65 of their 147 games with a total this season.
Pirates Stats & Insights
The Pirates are the 20th-highest scoring team in MLB play averaging 4.2 runs per game (619 total).
Pittsburgh has hit the fifth-fewest home runs in baseball this season (144).
The Pirates’ .235 batting average ranks 23rd in the majors.
Pittsburgh’s 9.2 strikeouts per game rank 24th in the majors.
The 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings compiled by the Pirates pitching staff ranks 20th in MLB.
Pittsburgh’s 4.13 team ERA ranks 17th among all MLB pitching staffs.
Royals Stats & Insights
The Royals are among the highest scoring teams in the majors, ranking ninth with 693 total runs this season.
Kansas City’s 162 home runs rank 16th in Major League Baseball.
The Royals’ .253 batting average is among the best in baseball, ranking seventh in MLB.
Kansas City ranks second in MLB in strikeouts per game with an average of seven Ks per contest.
The Royals have an 8.3 K/9 this season as a pitching staff, which ranks 23rd in the big leagues.
Kansas City has pitched to a 3.87 ERA this season, which ranks 10th in baseball.
Pirates Key Players to Watch
Ortiz gets the start for the Pirates, his 13th of the season. He is 6-5 with a 3.26 ERA and 90 strikeouts through 118 2/3 innings pitched.
Bryan Reynolds leads Pittsburgh in home runs with 22, runs batted in with 83 and his batting average of .279 is also best on his team.
Oneil Cruz has collected 132 hits this season and has an OBP of .325. He’s slugging .460 on the year.
Andrew McCutchen has 98 hits this season and a slash line of .241/.338/.432.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa has 109 hits and an OBP of .313 to go with a slugging percentage of .381 this season.
Royals Key Players to Watch
The Royals will send Marsh (7-8) to the mound for his 23rd start this season.
Bobby Witt Jr. has a team-best batting average of .333, while pacing the Royals in home runs (30).
Salvador Perez’s 101 runs batted in are a team-high mark.
Maikel Garcia is batting .237 with 25 doubles, five triples, seven home runs and 36 walks.
Hunter Renfroe has 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 35 walks while hitting .240.
Pirates and Royals Injuries
Pirates: Ke’Bryan Hayes: 10 Day IL (Herniated disc), Henry Davis: 10 Day IL (Hand), Ben Heller: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Marco Gonzales: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Daulton Jefferies: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Dauri Moreta: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Hunter Stratton: 60 Day IL (Patella), Johan Oviedo: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Endy Rodriguez: 60 Day IL (Elbow)
Royals: Vinnie Pasquantino: 10 Day IL (Thumb), Hunter Harvey: 15 Day IL (Back), Will Smith: 15 Day IL (Back), Michael Lorenzen: 15 Day IL (Hamstring), Josh Taylor: 60 Day IL (Biceps), Kyle Wright: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)
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