Now that the Kansas City Royals (88-73) have clinched their first postseason spot since 1985, the next thing they want to secure is a guarantee that they’ll play at least three games in October. To do that, they’ll have to win against the Chicago White Sox later and hope that the Detroit Tigers (89-72) lose to the Minnesota Twins. The Chicago White Sox, meanwhile, will be looking for a win in Paul Konerko’s last career game. Read more about this game below.
Looking for football? You can read our NFL previews of Week 4 matchups between the Packers and Bears here, and the Lions and Jets here.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox Betting Preview
Where: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago
When: Sunday, September 28, 2014, 2:10 PM ET
Line: Kansas City Royals (-161) at Chicago White Sox (+146); total: 8.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Kansas City Royals
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Royals missed the chance to grab the driver seat in the division last night when they lost, 5-4, at the hands of the Chicago White Sox.
While that made the Royals lose total control of their fates concerning their chase for a division title, they still have no reason to put their guards down in their meeting later with the White Sox, as they give the ball to Yordano Ventura (14-10, 3.07 ERA), whose been rock solid thus far this month. Ventura keeps a 5-1 record with a 1.62 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. The Royals are 8-2 in the 23-year-old pitcher’s last 10 starts. They are also 3-0 in Ventura’s last three road starts.
In his last start, Ventura befuddled the Cleveland Indians, allowing no earned runs and just four hits while fanning out six batters over seven innings of work in the Royals’ 7-1 win last September 23rd.
Although Ventura has been pitching superbly lately, the Royals still need their offense to show up early to give the youngster some cushion that will ease some pressure off him.
The Royals, who are averaging 4.8 runs per game over their last five outings, will look to the likes of Lorenzo Cain, Billy Butler, and Eric Hosmer to provide some activity at the plate. Cain is 11-for-30 (.367) over the last seven games. Butler, for his part, is 10-for-28 (.357) with a team-leading seven RBIs over the same period. Hosmer, meanwhile, has collected 10 hits on 28 at-bats for a .345 batting average.
Betting on the Chicago White Sox
The White Sox aren’t playing for a postseason spot, but the pressure is on Chris Bassitt (1-1, 3.65 ERA), who’ll be tasked to hold off Kansas City’s offense today so they’ll have a chance of giving the retiring Paul Konerko a nice sendoff win. Chicago will head to its last game of the season later, having won six of its last 10 games at U.S. Cellular Field.
Bassitt has only four starts thus far in his budding MLB career, but is coming into this game on the heels of an impressive outing against Detroit last September 22nd to earn his first win in the majors. In that game, Bassitt pitched seven scoreless innings in the White Sox’s 2-0 win over Detroit. Chicago is now 3-0 in the 25-year-old’s last three starts.
On offense, the White Sox hasn’t had success at the plate going into the twilight of their season. They are batting just .228 thus far this month, 26th in the MLB. Jordan Danks, though, is swinging his bat well this week, hitting 5-for-16 (.313), while Josh Phegley is providing some power with three homers in the White Sox’s last three games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Royals win 6-3. Create a betting account now, while odds are still available.
[sc:MLB490banner ]1,800 total views, 1 views today
