Chicago White Sox (1-0) at Kansas City (0-1)
When: Saturday, March 31st 2018
Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Time: 7:15 ET | TV: WGN, FS Kansas City
Opening Odds: Kansas City -126/8.5
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The Chicago White Sox are one of the up and coming teams in the league and were my ‘sleeper’ pick in my 2018 Season Preview (video). They proved me right – at least for a day – when they pounded out an Opening Day record-tying six home runs en route to a 14-7 win over the Kansas City Royals. After a day off, the two teams will continue their weekend series when Lucas Giolito opposes Ian Kennedy. The Royals’ bullpen is glad to have that extra off-day after Kansas City used nine pitchers Thursday – the most for a nine-inning game on Opening Day in modern MLB history (since 1908). Kansas City jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but the White Sox scored all 14 runs in the span of five innings. Matt Davidson blasted three of those home runs and Tim Anderson added two more for the White Sox in the blowout win. Davidson and Anderson are a combined 8-for-22 with two doubles and a homer against scheduled starter Kennedy. Jose Abreu had the other blast for Chicago, which hit six homers for only the 16th time in club history. Abreu is 9-for-19 with three homers versus Kennedy. Royals 1B Lucas Duda went 1-for-4 with a home run in his first game with his new club. Catcher Drew Butera, filling in for injured All-Star Salvador Perez, was 2-for-4 with a double in the opener.
Pitchers: White Sox – Lucas Giolito (2017: 3-3, 2.38 ERA) | Royals – Ian Kennedy (2017: 5-13, 5.38)
Giolito came up towards the end of the season in 2017 and put up solid numbers, and followed it up with a strong spring. He was terrific in his two starts against the Royals last season, going 1-0 and allowing two runs over 13.1 innings. However, Giolito has never won a road start – he’s 0-1 with a 3.78 ERA in three career outings away from home.
Kennedy is coming off an awful 2017, his worst in his career actually. Giving up a ton of home runs didn’t help (34), including six in four starts against the White Sox. Kennedy is 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA in nine career meetings with Chicago.
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The pitching matchup favors the White Sox, not only from a head-to-head situation, but based on each of these starters’ 2017 seasons. The White Sox bats are jumping already. They will continue that tonight.
Pick: White Sox -102
BETTING TRENDS:
- White Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- White Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
- White Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 Saturday games.
- White Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- White Sox are 16-36 in their last 52 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- White Sox are 20-46 in their last 66 road games.
- White Sox are 15-37 in their last 52 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- White Sox are 9-25 in their last 34 games following an off day.
- White Sox are 6-20 in their last 26 during game 2 of a series.
- White Sox are 2-7 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
- Royals are 6-0 in their last 6 during game 2 of a series.
- Royals are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Royals are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Royals are 10-4 in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Royals are 3-7 in their last 10 games following an off day.
- Royals are 2-7 in their last 9 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Royals are 1-7 in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Royals are 6-2 in Kennedy’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Royals are 5-2 in Kennedy’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Royals are 3-7 in Kennedy’s last 10 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Royals are 2-6 in Kennedy’s last 8 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in White Sox last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
- Under is 4-1 in White Sox last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-1 in White Sox last 5 Saturday games.
- Over is 19-7-2 in White Sox last 28 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
- Under is 5-2 in White Sox last 7 road games.
- Over is 15-7-1 in White Sox last 23 games following an off day.
- Over is 54-26-5 in White Sox last 85 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 4-0 in Giolito’s last 4 starts vs. American League Central.
- Under is 6-1 in Giolito’s last 7 starts on grass.
- Under is 6-1 in Giolito’s last 7 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Giolito’s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Giolito’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Royals last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 4-1 in Royals last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Royals last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Royals last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 10-4-2 in Royals last 16 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 60-27-6 in Royals last 93 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 6-1 in Kennedy’s last 7 home starts.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Kennedy’s last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Kennedy’s last 5 starts overall.
- Over is 8-2-2 in Kennedy’s last 12 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Kennedy’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 11-3 in Kennedy’s last 14 starts vs. American League Central.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Kennedy’s last 9 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2-2 in Kennedy’s last 9 Saturday starts.
- White Sox are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- White Sox are 10-21 in the last 31 meetings in Kansas City.
