Kansas City Royals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 9/18/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Kansas City Royals vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Kansas City (+125) Pittsburgh (-150)

The Kansas City Royals (67-85) are traveling to PNC Park on Friday where they will try to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (75-77). The moneyline on this contest has the Royals at +125 while the Pirates open at -150. The over/under comes in at 8. The pitchers taking the mound will be Randy Dobnak and Paul Skenes.

As a squad, the Kansas City Royals are recording 4.2 runs per game, which puts them at 24th in the league. They have notched a total of 641 runs and hold an on-base percentage of .315. The Royals have compiled 272 doubles as a team and have hit 158 balls out of the park. They have 610 runs batted in and 1,248 base knocks for the season, while their team batting average is at .245. Kansas City has a slugging rate of .399 and have been called out on strikes 1,192 times, while drawing a walk on 490 occasions.

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They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.04 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.39. Royals pitchers have allowed 185 home runs and also 734 total runs (25th in MLB). Kansas City has yielded 1,315 base hits (8.8 per 9 innings) in addition to 686 earned runs. The Royals have an ERA of 4.61 this year (25th in baseball), and the staff has rung up 1,100 hitters. They have walked 539 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.60 as a squad so far this year.

The Royals relievers have a save percentage of 60.0% and have entered the game in 142 save situations. They have accumulated 36 saves so far this year and have blown 24 of 60 save opportunities. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 155 runners so far this year with 40.0% of them crossing the plate. Royals relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on 108 times as well as having 149 appearances in high leverage situations. The Royals have sent 495 relievers to the hill on the campaign. The relief pitchers have tallied 79 holds so far this season (19th in MLB).

The Kansas City Royals have earned 4,015 putouts for the season, as well as 1,382 assists and 67 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .988 which ranks 7th in baseball, and have 134 double plays. The Royals have turned 69.8% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 12,045 innings on the diamond, which ranks them 14th in pro baseball.

Dobnak has thrown 209 frames and has tallied 132 strikeouts in his MLB career. His ERA is 4.17 (97 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.343. He has given up 221 base hits (9.5 hits per 9 innings) with 60 free passes. Dobnak (12-16 record in his career) has earned a FIP of 4.11 and he has faced 899 batters in the major leagues.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have earned a team OBP of .330 as well as a batting average of .253 over the course of the season. They have been rung up on 1,418 instances (4th in baseball) and have totaled 1,324 base knocks. Pittsburgh has 174 HRs on the year as well as 690 runs batted in. The Pirates hold a team slugging % of .402 and they are recording 4.76 runs per game (5th in the league). They have recorded 226 two-baggers, while walking 536 times as well as scoring 723 runs.

The Pirates hold a team WHIP of 1.302 and have a FIP of 3.85 as a pitching staff on the year. Their K/BB ratio is 9.20 (1,389 strikeouts vs 552 walks). They are currently ranked 12th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 1,213. They have conceded 145 long balls and they relinquish 4.66 runs per 9 innings (20th in the league). The Pittsburgh pitching staff have allowed 702 runs so far this season while holding an ERA of 4.19 (631 earned runs surrendered).

With 131 save situations, the Pirates have tallied 71 holds and also 24 blown saves. Pittsburgh has had relief pitchers step onto the mound in 58 save chances and they have walked away with 34 saves. Pittsburgh relievers have an inherited score percentage of 32.3% of 186 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 145 times in high leverage situations and on 126 occasions with base runners. They are currently ranked 21st in the league holding a save rate of 58.6%, and they have dispatched 493 relief pitchers onto the field this season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 124 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .983 (26th in pro baseball). The Pirates have racked up 1,207 assists, 92 errors and have a tally of 4,069 putouts for the season. In 12,207 innings on the diamond, the Pirates hold a defensive efficiency of 69.0% (25th in the majors).

In his career, Skenes has surrendered 367 hits while he has accumulated 571 strikeouts in 482 innings. He has surrendered 138 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.010 and being the owner of a FIP of 2.5. His K/BB ratio is 4.76 and he has faced 1,912 opposing batters in his pro baseball career. Skenes (31-24 record in his career) has earned a 2.58 ERA while giving up 6.8 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (-150)

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