• The Pirates are -190 favorites vs the Royals
• Royals vs Pirates Over / Under today: 8 Runs
• Royals / Pirates TV Channel: RYTV | SNPT

The Kansas City Royals (+155) visit PNC Park to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (-190) on September 18, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm in Pittsburgh, PA.

This season, the Royals are 67-86 against the spread (ATS), while the Pirates are 73-76 ATS.

Royals vs Pirates Starting Pitchers Today:

• Royals starting pitcher: Randy Dobnak 3-4, 2.76 ERA
• Pirates starting pitcher: Paul Skenes 10-11, 3.81 ERA

Royals vs. Pirates Odds, Run Line, Over/Under & Moneyline

Royals vs Pirates Prediction for Today’s Game

Based on recent trends the model predicts the Pirates will win Friday‘s MLB game with 63.0% confidence, factoring in game simulations, recent player performances, starting pitchers and 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:

• Salvador Perez has hit the Runs Under in 19 of his last 20 away games (+17.95 Units / 48% ROI)
• Carter Jensen has hit the Hits Over in 21 of his last 25 games (+13.30 Units / 29% ROI)
• Carter Jensen has hit the Total Bases Over in 18 of his last 25 games (+12.90 Units / 43% ROI)
• Michael Massey has hit the Singles Over in 18 of his last 25 games (+11.85 Units / 46% ROI)
• Salvador Perez has hit the RBIs Over in 14 of his last 25 games (+11.40 Units / 46% ROI)

And here are some favorite MLB player prop bets for Pirates players for Friday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:

Best Pirates Player Prop Best Bets Today:

• Konnor Griffin has hit the Total Bases Over in 18 of his last 25 games at home (+14.50 Units / 47% ROI)
• Henry Davis has hit the Home Runs Over in 2 of his last 4 games at home (+14.10 Units / 353% ROI)
• Konnor Griffin has hit the Runs Over in 16 of his last 25 games at home (+13.70 Units / 54% ROI)
• Brandon Lowe has hit the Hits Over in 21 of his last 25 games at home (+13.40 Units / 27% ROI)
• Jacob Gonzalez has hit the Hits Runs and RBIs Under in 15 of his last 20 games at home (+10.10 Units / 40% ROI)

Royals Best Bets Today:

• The Kansas City Royals have hit the Team Total Under in 27 of their last 40 away games (+12.90 Units / 28% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have hit the Game Total Under in 30 of their last 50 games (+12.55 Units / 23% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 25 of their last 40 away games (+7.95 Units / 16% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 19 of their last 40 games (+6.55 Units / 14% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have covered the Run Line in 29 of their last 50 games (+6.00 Units / 9% ROI)

Pirates Best Bets Today:

• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 16 of their last 22 games (+10.80 Units / 43% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Game Total Over in 29 of their last 50 games at home (+8.45 Units / 15% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Team Total Under in 30 of their last 50 games (+8.25 Units / 15% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have covered the Run Line in 7 of their last 9 games (+5.40 Units / 41% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Moneyline in 11 of their last 17 games (+4.70 Units / 22% ROI)

Royals Against the Spread (ATS) Record

Against the spread this season, the Royals are 73-74 against the Run Line (-20.05 Units / -9.49% ROI).

• 67-86 when betting on the Moneyline for -17.9 Units / -10.53% ROI
• 66-82 when betting on the total runs Over for -23.65 Units / -14.04% ROI
• 82-66 when betting on the total runs Under for +10.05 Units / 5.98% ROI

Pirates Against the Spread (ATS) Record

Against the spread this season, the Pirates are 73-76 against the Run Line (-9.15 Units / -4.71% ROI).

• 76-77 when betting on the Moneyline for -11.4 Units / -6.05% ROI
• 78-68 when betting on the total runs Over for +3.3 Units / 1.96% ROI
• 68-78 when betting on the total runs Under for -17.4 Units / -10.36% ROI

Royals Keys to the Game vs. the Pirates

The Royals are just 8-34 (.190) when allowing 2 or more home runs this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

The Royals are just 57-8 (.877) when leading entering the 9th inning this season — tied for 4th lowest in MLB.

The Royals are just 67-86 (.438) this season — 5th lowest in MLB.

The Royals are just 9-48 (.158) when allowing 10 or more hits this season — 4th lowest in MLB.

Pirates Keys to the Game vs. the Royals

The Pirates are just 6-37 (.140) when allowing 10 or more hits this season — 2nd lowest in MLB.

The Pirates are just 10-24 (.294) when their opponents score in the first inning this season — 5th lowest in MLB.

The Pirates are just 20-124 (.139) when allowing 10 or more hits since the 2024 season — 2nd lowest in MLB.

The Pirates are just 13-80 (.140) when allowing 10 or more hits since the 2025 season — lowest in MLB.

Royals Hitting Stats & Trends

Royals hitters are slugging just .361 with runners in scoring position this season — lowest in MLB.

Royals hitters have an OPS of just .661 (2,950 PA’s) on the road this season — 2nd lowest in MLB.

The Royals are batting just .227 on the road this season — 2nd lowest in MLB.

The Royals have scored 3.59 runs per game (280/78) on the road this season — lowest in MLB.

Pirates Hitting Stats & Trends

Pirates hitters have struck out in 25% of their PA’s against LHP this season — 2nd highest in MLB.

Pirates hitters have 122 extra-base hits out of 414 total hits (just 29%) against LHP this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

Pirates hitters have an OBP of .347 (2,888 PA’s) at home this season — 3rd best in MLB.

The Pirates are batting .269 at home this season — tied for 2nd best in MLB.

Royals Pitching Stats & Trends

Opponents have a miss rate of just 23% against Royals pitchers this season — tied for 3rd lowest in MLB.

Royals pitchers have a strikeout rate of just 19% this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

Royals pitchers have a strikeout rate of just 19% in late innings this season — tied for lowest in MLB.

Royals pitchers have a strikeout rate of just 37% with two-strikes this season — 2nd lowest in MLB.

Pirates Pitching Stats & Trends

The Pirates have won just 23% of games in which their opponents scored first this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

Pirates pitchers have walked 10% of batters when facing the leadoff batter in the inning this season — 4th highest in MLB.

Pirates pitchers have an ERA of 4.41 (687.0 IP) at home this season — 4th highest in MLB.

The Pirates pitchers have allowed their opponents to score first in just 44% of their games this season — 2nd lowest in MLB.

More MLB Reading:

• Home Run Predictions Today
• Best NRFI Bets Today
• Strikeout Props Today
• MLB Starting Pitchers Today

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