Barstool Bush
Predictions

Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox

By Bush StaffUpdated 56d ago·2 min read
Kansas City RoyalsKC(34-49)
Chicago White SoxCWS(42-38)
1—2
FINAL
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KC
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CWS
0000001012100

Davis Martin (9-3, 3.18 ERA) draws Michael Wacha (5-5, 3.48 ERA) in a 3:10 PM CT afternoon game at Guaranteed Rate Field — a pitching matchup that looks reasonable on paper until you factor in what happened 18 hours ago: a 10-run third inning, 5 home runs, and a 22-run final score with Kansas City on the wrong end of it.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Royals(34-49)
LLLWW
1
White Sox(42-38)
WLWWL
2
Best BetWhite Sox -147
Pregame

The White Sox are priced as clear favorites here and it's hard to argue with the logic. Martin is pitching at a level that makes Chicago a tough out every fifth day, and their home record speaks for itself. At -137, you're paying for a real edge backed by sustained performance, not a one-game sample.

Martin has been one of the more under-the-radar success stories in the AL this season. He works fast, commands the zone, and came off a 6-inning, 1-run outing against Detroit in his last start. He's at home in a park where Chicago has gone 27-13 — tied for the best home record in baseball. Wacha has been Kansas City's most reliable rotation piece all year; his last start was 7 innings of 1-run ball against Tampa Bay. But steady hasn't been enough for a Royals lineup that keeps getting shorter.

Kansas City Royals
Michael Wacha
(5-7)·3.77 ERA
Jun 22 @ Rays
W
7.0IP
1ER
5K
1BB
99P
06/27 Lineup
Chicago White Sox
Davis Martin
(9-4)·3.41 ERA
Jun 21 @ Tigers
ND
6.0IP
1ER
4K
3BB
77P
06/27 Lineup
Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
(34-49)
Jun 26L@ White Sox1-22
Jun 25L@ Rays2-13
Jun 24L@ Rays3-5
Jun 23W@ Rays12-5
Jun 22W@ Rays2-1
Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
(42-38)
Jun 26Wvs Royals22-1
Jun 24Lvs Guardians3-4
Jun 23Wvs Guardians2-1
Jun 22Wvs Guardians6-5
Jun 21L@ Tigers4-5

Kansas City has dropped 3 of their last 5, and 2 of those losses weren't close: a 13-2 drubbing in Tampa Bay followed by last night's 22-1 embarrassment in Chicago. Friday's blowout featured Tristan Peters going off for a grand slam and 6 RBIs, Jacob Gonzalez adding 5 more, and a rookie starter who had been in Triple-A Charlotte that morning tossing 6 solid innings against them. The White Sox are 42-38 and leading the AL Central. The Royals are 34-49 and sinking. This is not a balanced series.

Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
(13)
  • Day-To-DayStephen Kolek (SP) — Kolek (4-2) took the loss Sunday against the Cardinals, allowing nine runs on nine hits and one walk over 1.2 innings.06/25
  • Day-To-DayJavier Vaz (2B) — Vaz (fingers) has produced a .238/.304/.262 slash line with zero home runs and three stolen bases in 10 games since being activated from Double-A Northwest Arkansas' 7-day injured list April 22.05/08
  • Day-To-DayTyson Guerrero (RP) — no05/08
  • 10-Day-ILMaikel Garcia (3B) — The Royals placed Garcia on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a left hand muscle strain.06/23
  • 10-Day-ILVinnie Pasquantino (1B) — Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that Pasquantino underwent surgery Sunday to remove a fractured hamate bone in his right hand and will face a recovery timeline of roughly 4-6 weeks, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.06/14
  • 10-Day-ILKyle Isbel (CF) — Isbel has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fasciitis.06/11
  • 15-Day-ILKris Bubic (SP) — Bubic (elbow) threw a perfect inning while striking out one in Wednesday's rehab start with Triple-A Omaha.06/26
  • 15-Day-ILNick Mears (RP) — Mears (shoulder) received an injection and began playing catch again Monday, MLB.com reports.06/24
  • 60-Day-ILCarlos Estevez (RP) — Estevez (shoulder) threw a bullpen Sunday and is scheduled to throw another Wednesday, MLB.com reports.06/24
  • 60-Day-ILCole Ragans (SP) — Manager Matt Quatraro said Tuesday that Ragans (elbow) will likely need some type of elbow surgery, but the specific procedure and potential recovery timeline remain unclear as the left-hander is scheduled to visit another doctor soon, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.06/23
  • 60-Day-ILJonathan India (2B) — no06/04
  • 60-Day-ILJames McArthur (RP) — McArthur (elbow) underwent surgery Friday to help combat continued soreness and inflammation, MLB.com reports.05/25
  • 60-Day-ILAlec Marsh (SP) — The Royals placed Marsh (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
(15)
  • Day-To-DayHagen Smith (SP) — Smith will be shut down for two weeks after being diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.06/16
  • Day-To-DayTim Elko (1B) — no06/11
  • Day-To-DayMason Adams (RP) — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.05/08
  • 7-day ilEverson Pereira (RF) — The White Sox activated Pereira (pectoral) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.06/18
  • 10-Day-ILMunetaka Murakami (1B) — White Sox manager Will Venable said Sunday that Murakami (hamstring) is increasing the intensity of his hitting and running at about 80 percent intensity, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.06/21
  • 15-Day-ILNoah Schultz (SP) — Schultz (knee) struck out four over 2.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Charlotte. He scattered two hits and one walk and also hit two batters.06/22
  • 15-Day-ILTyler Gilbert (RP) — The White Sox placed Gilbert on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left shoulder impingement.06/10
  • 60-Day-ILAustin Hays (LF) — Hays has been pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte due to a recurrence of left calf soreness, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.06/09
  • 60-Day-ILJordan Leasure (RP) — Leasure (forearm) said Friday that he will be shut down from throwing for four weeks, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/30
  • 60-Day-ILKy Bush (SP) — Bush (elbow) had a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and is unlikely to return until the second half of the season, MLB.com reports.05/26
  • 60-Day-ILDrew Thorpe (SP) — Thorpe (elbow) recently underwent an appendectomy but has resumed throwing, MLB.com reports.05/26
  • 60-Day-ILPrelander Berroa (RP) — Berroa is dealing with right elbow inflammation and will have his rehab stint paused, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/17
  • 60-Day-ILMike Vasil (RP) — The White Sox transferred Vasil (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILTanner Murray (LF) — The White Sox transferred Murray (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILBrooks Baldwin (LF) — The White Sox transferred Baldwin (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08

The Kansas City injury report makes everything harder. Vinnie Pasquantino just had hamate bone surgery and is out 4-6 weeks. Maikel Garcia is on the IL with a hand strain. Cole Ragans — one of their best starters — is likely looking at elbow surgery with a recovery timeline that's still unclear. This is a road-weary, short-handed club asking Wacha to hold the fort against one of baseball's hottest home teams. First pitch is at 3:10 PM CT.

Sources

MLBKansas City RoyalsChicago White SoxPolymarketKalshiMichael WachaDavis Martin