Kansas City Royals vs Chicago White Sox Prediction, 4/8/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Kansas City Royals vs Chicago White Sox

Date: Thursday, April 8, 2021

Location: Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL

TV: NBC Sports Chicago

Odds/Point Spread: Kansas City (+150) Chicago (-160)

Brad Keller and the Kansas City Royals (3-1, 1st in AL Central) go to Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday where they'll meet the Chicago White Sox (3-3, 4th in AL Central). The White Sox open this game at -160 while the Royals are priced at +150. The total has been set at 9. The expected starting pitchers are Brad Keller and Lance Lynn.

As a unit, the Kansas City Royals are putting up 7.8 runs/g, which is 2nd in MLB. They have earned a total of 31 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .384. The Royals have compiled 7 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 7 balls out of the stadium. They have accounted for 30 RBI's as well as 42 base knocks so far this year, and their team batting average is .300. Kansas City has a slugging rate of .514 and have been called out on strikes 35 times, while drawing a walk on 18 occasions.

The Royals have an ERA of 4.75 on the season (20th in the league), and their staff has struck out 40 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 20 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.03 as a team over the course of the season. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.00 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.44. Royals pitchers have surrendered 3 home runs and 21 runs in total (16th in the league).

The Royals relievers have a save percentage of 100.0% and has come into the game in 6 save situations. The relievers have inherited 11 runners for the year with 9.1% of those players crossed home plate. Royals pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base in 5 games and also 3 games with high leverage. The Royals have dispatched 16 relief pitchers to the mound for the season. The relief pitchers have recorded 4 holds this season (9th in baseball). They have earned 2 saves over the course of the season and haven't blown any to this point.

Keller (21-23 career win-loss mark) holds a FIP of 3.91 while going up against 1,521 hitters during his time in the major leagues. He has conceded 335 hits (8.3 hits per nine innings) and has had 139 free passes. His ERA is 3.63 (146 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.311. Keller has pitched in 361 innings and has tallied 253 strikeouts thus far in his career.

The Chicago White Sox have tallied a team on-base percentage of .343 as well as a batting average of .252 so far this year. They have struck out on 61 occasions (2nd in MLB) and have earned a total of 54 base hits. Chicago has hit 8 HRs over the course of the season to go along with 32 runs batted in. The White Sox hold a team slugging percentage of .402 and they are scoring 6.33 runs per game (6th in MLB). They have put up 8 two-baggers, while taking a walk 26 times as well as notching 38 runs.

The White Sox have a WHIP of 1.331 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.90 as a squad on the year. They are currently ranked 8th in MLB as a staff in total hits relinquished with 45. The Chicago pitching staff have yielded 28 runs so far this season while holding a team ERA of 3.87 (22 earned runs yielded). They currently have a K/BB ratio of 2.96 (68 strikeouts against 23 free passes). They have given up 7 long balls and they relinquish 4.93 runs per 9 innings (18th in baseball).

Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 30.0% out of their 10 inherited runners. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound in 8 games with high leverage and also 6 games with runners on. Sitting with 3 opportunities for a save, the White Sox have earned 4 holds and 2 blown saves. They rank 20th in baseball with a save percentage of 33.3%, and they have dispatched 18 relievers to the hill so far this season. Chicago has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 8 save situations and they have earned 1 save.

Lynn (104-71 career win-loss mark) has a 3.56 ERA and has allowed 8.3 hits per 9 innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.68 and he has faced 6,070 opposing batters during his career. He has allowed 566 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.292 and a FIP of 3.6. During his MLB career, Lynn has given up 1,318 base hits while he has earned 1,421 K's in 1,431 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Chicago (-160)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here