- The Cubs are + favorites vs the Royals
- Royals starting pitcher: Cole Ragans
- Cubs starting pitcher: Jameson Taillon
- Watch the game on MLB Network
The Kansas City Royals (+) visit Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs (+) on Friday, August 18, 2023. First pitch is scheduled for 2:20pm EDT in Chicago.
The Cubs are the betting favorite in this game, with the run line sitting at + (+).
The Royals vs Cubs Over/Under is total runs for the game.
This season, the Royals are 39-84 against the spread (ATS), while the Cubs are 63-57 ATS.
Royals vs. Cubs Odds, Run Line, Over/Under & Moneyline
| Spread | Over / Under | Moneyline | |
| Royals | + + | O + | + |
| Cubs | + + | U + | + |
Royals vs Cubs Prediction for Today’s Game
Based on recent trends the model predicts the Cubs will win Friday‘s MLB matchup with 74.2% confidence.
This prediction factors in starting pitchers, recent team and player hitting performances, the last 5 games for both the Royals and Cubs and up-to-date player injuries.
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We’ve highlighted some favorite MLB player prop bets for Royals players for Friday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:
Best Royals Player Prop Bets Today:
- Jordan Lyles has hit the Earned Runs Over in 18 of his last 22 games (+12.40 Units / 39% ROI)
- Salvador Perez has hit the RBIs Under in 15 of his last 17 away games (+11.10 Units / 35% ROI)
- Bobby Witt Jr. has hit the RBIs Over in 11 of his last 18 games (+10.20 Units / 57% ROI)
- Bobby Witt Jr. has hit the Total Bases Over in 16 of his last 23 games (+9.60 Units / 39% ROI)
- Maikel Garcia has hit the Hits Runs and RBIs Over in 17 of his last 24 games (+9.60 Units / 30% ROI)
And here are some favorite MLB player prop bets for Cubs players for Friday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:
Best Cubs Player Prop Best Bets Today:
- Cody Bellinger has hit the Total Bases Over in 33 of his last 44 games (+24.45 Units / 41% ROI)
- Cody Bellinger has hit the Singles Over in 34 of his last 47 games (+21.80 Units / 42% ROI)
- Cody Bellinger has hit the Hits Over in 37 of his last 45 games (+21.40 Units / 23% ROI)
- Cody Bellinger has hit the Hits Runs and RBIs Over in 34 of his last 45 games (+21.10 Units / 39% ROI)
- Mike Tauchman has hit the Runs Over in 27 of his last 39 games (+17.55 Units / 41% ROI)
Cubs vs Royals Total Hits Prop Bets Today
| Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|
| Jeimer Candelario | 0.5 -160 | 0.5 +125 |
| Seiya Suzuki | 0.5 -210 | 0.5 +155 |
| Patrick Wisdom | 0.5 -110 | 0.5 -120 |
| MJ Melendez | 0.5 -210 | 0.5 +155 |
| Drew Waters | 0.5 -150 | 0.5 +115 |
Cubs vs Royals RBI Prop Bets Today
| Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|
| Jeimer Candelario | 0.5 +190 | 0.5 -250 |
| Christopher Morel | 0.5 +185 | 0.5 -250 |
| Salvador Perez | 0.5 +130 | 0.5 -165 |
| Kyle Isbel | 0.5 +220 | 0.5 -300 |
Royals Best Bets Today:
- The Kansas City Royals have hit the Team Total Over in 15 of their last 19 games (+10.14 Units / 43% ROI)
- The Kansas City Royals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Over in 14 of their last 18 games (+9.64 Units / 42% ROI)
- The Kansas City Royals have covered the Run Line in 19 of their last 30 games (+7.45 Units / 22% ROI)
- The Kansas City Royals have hit the Game Total Over in 5 of their last 6 games (+5.00 Units / 74% ROI)
- The Kansas City Royals have covered the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 19 of their last 33 games (+4.65 Units / 13% ROI)
Cubs Best Bets Today:
- The Chicago Cubs have hit the Game Total Over in 26 of their last 42 games at home (+11.15 Units / 23% ROI)
- The Chicago Cubs have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Over in 17 of their last 24 games (+10.54 Units / 38% ROI)
- The Chicago Cubs have hit the Team Total Over in 32 of their last 55 games (+6.44 Units / 10% ROI)
- The Chicago Cubs have hit the Moneyline in 11 of their last 15 games at home (+6.40 Units / 32% ROI)
- The Chicago Cubs have covered the Run Line in 26 of their last 49 games at home (+5.10 Units / 9% ROI)
Royals Against the Spread (ATS) Record
Against the spread this MLB season, the Royals have gone 53-70 against the Run Line (-27.7 Units / -18.64% ROI).
- 39-84 when betting on the Moneyline for -30 Units / -23.85% ROI
- 59-60 when betting on the total runs Over for -7.45 Units / -5.52% ROI
- 60-59 when betting on the total runs Under for -4.95 Units / -3.7% ROI
Cubs Against the Spread (ATS) Record
Against the spread this MLB season, the Cubs have gone 63-57 against the Run Line (+1.4 Units / 0.91% ROI).
- 62-58 when betting on the Moneyline for +0.65 Units / 0.46% ROI
- 62-52 when betting on the total runs Over for +4.1 Units / 3.11% ROI
- 52-62 when betting on the total runs Under for -15.8 Units / -12.14% ROI
Royals Starting Pitcher Stats & Trends
Opponents are hitting .297 (11-for-37) against Cole Ragans’ elevated fastball this season — tied for 10th highest among qualified RPs in MLB*; League Avg: .204 — eighth Percentile.
Opponents have a groundball rate of 60% (29/48) against Cole Ragans in two-strike counts this season — 7th highest among qualified RPs in MLB*; League Avg: 45% — 94th Percentile.
Cole Ragans has allowed a slugging percentage of .562 (18 Total Bases / 32 ABs) on fastballs away this season — 9th highest among qualified RPs in MLB*; League Avg: .341 — sixth Percentile.
Opponents have a groundball rate of 60% (29/48) against Cole Ragans in two-strike counts this season — 7th highest among in MLB; League Avg: 45% — 93rd Percentile.
Cubs Starting Pitcher Stats & Trends
Jameson Taillon has walked 16 of 621 right-handed batters (3%) since last season — 2nd best in MLB among starting pitchers with at least 112 total IP; League Avg: 7% — 99th Percentile.
Jameson Taillon has walked 6 of 213 right-handed batters (3%) this season — tied for 6th best in MLB among starting pitchers with at least 48 total IP; League Avg: 7% — 96th Percentile.
Opponents had a chase percentage of 37% (236/639) against Andrew Heaney in 2022 — tied for 2nd highest in MLB among starting pitchers with at least 64 total IP; League Avg: 30% — 99th Percentile.
Opponents had a miss rate of 36% (226/629) against Andrew Heaney in 2022 — 2nd best in MLB among starting pitchers with at least 64 total IP; League Avg: 25% — 99th Percentile.
Royals Keys to the Game vs. the Cubs
The Royals are just 7-147 (.045) when trailing entering the 7th inning since last season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: .130.
The Royals are just 9-76 (.106) when their opponents score in the first inning since last season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: .359.
The Royals are just 26-26 (.500) when allowing 4 or fewer runs this season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: .729.
The Royals are just 4-15 (.211) after a road win this season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: .485.
Cubs Keys to the Game vs. the Royals
The Cubs are just 4-8 (.333) when tied entering the 7th inning this season — 3rd lowest in MLB; League Avg: .500.
The Cubs are 34-6 (.850) when they’ve had 10 or more hits this season — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .728.
The Cubs are just 16-16 (.500) when they’ve scored in the first inning this season — tied for 3rd lowest in MLB; League Avg: .613.
The Cubs are just 25-31 (.446) after a loss as favorites since last season — 4th lowest in MLB; League Avg: .585.
Royals Hitting Stats & Trends
The Royals have won just 52% of games in which they have scored in at least three different innings on the road since last season — 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 72%.
The Royals have won just 32% of games in which they have scored first on the road this season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: 62%.
The Royals have won just 44% of games in which they have scored in at least three different innings on the road this season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: 70%.
The Royals have won just 49% of games in which they have scored in at least three different innings this season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: 72%.
Cubs Hitting Stats & Trends
Cubs hitters are averaging 4.04 pitches per plate appearance against RHP this season — highest in MLB; League Avg: 3.90.
The Cubs are batting just .314 on the first pitch of at-bats this season — tied for lowest in MLB; League Avg: .350.
Cubs hitters are averaging 4.05 pitches per plate appearance this season — highest in MLB; League Avg: 3.89.
Cubs hitters have an OBP of .335 (3,295 PA’s) against RHP this season — 4th best in MLB; League Avg: .319.
Royals Pitching Stats & Trends
Royals pitchers have picked-off 16 runners from first base this season — best in MLB.
Royals pitchers have won only 11% of games in which they have allowed their opponent to score in three different innings on the road since last season — lowest in MLB; League Avg: 25%.
The Royals have won just 20% of games in which their opponents scored first since last season — 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 32%.
Royals pitchers have allowed a run 38% of the time after an opposing score since last season — 2nd highest in MLB; League Avg: 30%.
Cubs Pitching Stats & Trends
Opponents have a groundball batting average of just .217 against Cubs pitchers this season — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .248.
Cubs pitchers have walked 75 of 1,064 batters (7%) when facing the leadoff batter in the inning this season — tied for 4th best in MLB; League Avg: 8%.
Cubs pitchers have allowed an average Exit Velocity of 88.2 MPH (3,019 batted balls) this season — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: 89.1.
Opponents have a groundball batting average of just .210 against Cubs pitchers with the shift this season — 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: .240.
Cubs vs. Royals Injuries Tonight That May Affect Prop Bets
- Ethan Roberts (Cubs): Elbow, D60
- Codi Heuer (Cubs): Elbow, D60
- Bradley Boxberger (Cubs): Forearm, D60
- Marcus Stroman (Cubs): Rib, D15
- Brandon Hughes (Cubs): Knee, D60
- Nicholas Burdi (Cubs): Appendicitis, D60
- Daniel A. Lynch (Royals): Shoulder, D15
- Jacob Brentz (Royals): Elbow, D60
- Vincent Pasquantino (Royals): Shoulder, D60
- Kristofer Bubic (Royals): Flexor, D60
- Donald Greinke (Royals): Elbow, D15
- Nicholas Pratto (Royals): Groin, D10
- Joshua Staumont (Royals): Neck, D60
- Brad Keller (Royals): Shoulder, D60
- Josh Taylor (Royals): Shoulder, D60
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