ODDS ANALYSIS
After getting swept on the road by the Yankees, the Royals continue their road trip with their first visit to Wrigley Field since 2001. The Cubs meanwhile have lost two of three games in each of their last two series and venture into interleague play for the first time in attempt to get back on track.
The Royals fell 4-2 to the Yankees on Wednesday for their fourth straight loss and their potent offense has taken a hiatus. KC scored one run in each of the first three games during the losing skid and their outburst in the series finale wasn’t enough to end the skid. The Royals are down 4.32 units during their slide but remain a good bet overall in the black 9.24 units on the season. The under is 7-2-1 in Kansas City’s last 10 games and 2-0-1 in Yordano Ventura’s last three starts.
With some of the most exciting young talent in the majors the Cubs have still found it difficult to score runs. They’ve scored more than three runs just twice in their last 10 games and were shutout Wednesday for their third loss in four games cashing the under each time. The Cubs have played much better at home and were 7-3 in their last 10 before this series up 3.49 units on the moneyline. The under is also 5-2 in the last seven starts made by Jason Hammel.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Kansas City’s Yordano Ventura (3-4, 4.64 ERA) allowed four runs in seven innings in a loss to the Cardinals on Sunday. Even after giving up five hits in his last outing, he says he is feeling more confident with each game he pitches six or seven innings, which he’s done in each of his last four starts.
Ventura makes his 10th start of the season and 42nd career in his first appearance against the Cubs.
Jason Hammel (3-2, 2.98 ERA) made a late adjustment against the Dbacks, who were jumping on his first pitch, in his last start. He didn’t give up a hit after the third inning but it was too late and he took the loss after surrendering four runs and five hits. He walked one and struck out nine.
Hammel is 1-2 with a 4.99 ERA in eight career games versus the Royals. His last outing against them was as a member of the A’s in last year’s Wild Card game when he allowed the game-winning hit to Salvador Perez in the bottom of the 12th inning.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“A lot of it was Pineda, but some of it was us. We’re not swinging the bats, and we’re cooling off a bit. We had opportunities to get back in the game and couldn’t take advantage of it. We were on a really long hot streak and we just cooled down. Offenses fluctuate like that. Get hot and cool down.” – Manager Ned Yost Wednesday after the Royals’ fourth straight loss
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Cubs manager Joe Maddon isn’t pleased with the league’s schedule makers and he let everyone know he wasn’t happy. The Cubs have five different start times during their six-game homestand with all three games against the Royals getting underway at different times. “It’s an awkward schedule,” Maddon said. The Cubs started their homestand Monday with an afternoon game after travelling through two time zones from Arizona where they played the day before. “To play a day game two time zones away then come back to another one the next day, it’s tough. But we’re not going to make excuses.” It sounds like Maddon is making an excuse and the Cubs probably need one after scoring four runs in three games against the Nationals.
PROP TALK
All the hype that came with third baseman Kris Bryant upon his arrival to the Cubs has proven to be worthy. The young slugger has seven home runs in 18 games since May 9 after going without a long ball through his first 20 games. He appears more comfortable at the plate and isn’t fazed by whoever is dealing to him. Bryant is another anchor on the young Cubs team loaded with talent, now they just have to start winning games. Many feel the Cubs are still a year away from competing but they’ve shown signs of what they can do and Bryant has been in the middle of plenty of the action.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Royals are a team built to not endure prolonged losing streaks, and their four-game slide after getting swept by the Yankees is an anomaly. They have the best bullpen in the majors, lead baseball in team batting and play superior defense, this team simply won’t lose a lot of games consecutively. But all teams go through slumps and the Royals experienced one scoring only five runs in their losing streak.
Chicago’s free-swinging group of young hitters likes to strike out and KC’s Yordano Ventura will oblige as the Royals get back to their winning ways against the Cubbies.
Kansas City 5, Chicago 2
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