• The Royals are -120 favorites vs the Pirates
• Royals vs Pirates Over / Under today: 8.5 Runs
• Royals / Pirates TV Channel: RYTV | SNPT

The Kansas City Royals (-120) visit PNC Park to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (+100) on September 20, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 pm in Pittsburgh, PA.

This season, the Royals are 67-88 against the spread (ATS), while the Pirates are 75-76 ATS.

Royals vs Pirates Starting Pitchers Today:

• Royals starting pitcher: Michael Wacha 9-9, 3.38 ERA
• Pirates starting pitcher: Lake Bachar 1-4, 3.52 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 Sunday‘s MLB game with 54.7% 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 Sunday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:

Best Royals Player Prop Bets Today:

• Carter Jensen has hit the Total Bases Over in 16 of his last 20 games (+13.10 Units / 53% ROI)
• Michael Massey has hit the Home Runs Over in 2 of his last 4 games (+12.10 Units / 303% ROI)
• Isaac Collins has hit the Singles Under in 20 of his last 25 away games (+11.85 Units / 29% ROI)
• Carter Jensen has hit the Hits Over in 20 of his last 25 games (+10.75 Units / 24% ROI)
• Bobby Witt Jr. has hit the RBIs Under in 13 of his last 15 games (+9.05 Units / 27% ROI)

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

Best Pirates Player Prop Best Bets Today:

• Brandon Lowe has hit the Home Runs Over in 5 of his last 10 games at home (+17.70 Units / 177% ROI)
• Brandon Lowe has hit the Hits Over in 21 of his last 25 games at home (+13.40 Units / 27% ROI)
• Konnor Griffin has hit the Total Bases Over in 17 of his last 25 games at home (+12.10 Units / 40% ROI)
• Oneil Cruz has hit the Singles Over in 14 of his last 20 games (+11.85 Units / 59% ROI)
• Konnor Griffin has hit the Runs Over in 15 of his last 25 games at home (+10.60 Units / 42% ROI)

Royals Best Bets Today:

• The Kansas City Royals have hit the Team Total Under in 26 of their last 40 away games (+11.05 Units / 24% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have hit the Game Total Under in 22 of their last 35 away games (+9.90 Units / 25% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 25 of their last 40 away games (+8.20 Units / 17% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 18 of their last 40 games (+4.20 Units / 9% ROI)
• The Kansas City Royals have hit the Moneyline in 16 of their last 30 games (+3.20 Units / 9% ROI)

Pirates Best Bets Today:

• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Game Total Over in 31 of their last 50 games at home (+12.55 Units / 23% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 16 of their last 24 games (+8.60 Units / 32% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have covered the Run Line in 9 of their last 11 games (+7.55 Units / 47% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Moneyline in 13 of their last 19 games (+6.70 Units / 27% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have covered the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 12 of their last 19 games (+4.05 Units / 17% ROI)

Royals Against the Spread (ATS) Record

Against the spread this season, the Royals are 73-76 against the Run Line (-22.4 Units / -10.48% ROI).

• 67-88 when betting on the Moneyline for -19.9 Units / -11.57% ROI
• 68-82 when betting on the total runs Over for -21.65 Units / -12.69% ROI
• 82-68 when betting on the total runs Under for +7.8 Units / 4.58% ROI

Pirates Against the Spread (ATS) Record

Against the spread this season, the Pirates are 75-76 against the Run Line (-7 Units / -3.55% ROI).

• 78-77 when betting on the Moneyline for -9.4 Units / -4.91% ROI
• 80-68 when betting on the total runs Over for +5.3 Units / 3.1% ROI
• 68-80 when betting on the total runs Under for -19.65 Units / -11.55% ROI

Royals Keys to the Game vs. the Pirates

The Royals are just 9-49 (.155) when allowing 10 or more hits this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

The Royals are just 64-73 (.467) when allowing 5 or more extra base hits this season — 5th lowest in MLB.

The Royals are just 8-35 (.186) when allowing 2 or more home runs this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

The Royals are just 54-12 (.818) when leading entering the 8th inning this season — 5th lowest in MLB.

Pirates Keys to the Game vs. the Royals

The Pirates are just 7-37 (.159) when allowing 10 or more hits this season — 4th lowest in MLB.

The Pirates are just 20-54 (.270) when their opponents score in the first inning since the 2025 season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

The Pirates are just 21-124 (.145) when allowing 10 or more hits since the 2024 season — 2nd lowest in MLB.

The Pirates are just 14-80 (.149) when allowing 10 or more hits since the 2025 season — lowest in MLB.

Royals Hitting Stats & Trends

Royals hitters are slugging just .360 with runners in scoring position this season — lowest in MLB.

Royals hitters are slugging just .245 with two-strikes this season — tied for lowest in MLB.

Royals hitters have an OPS of just .665 (3,028 PA’s) on the road this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

Royals hitters have put 40% of their swings in play on the first pitch of at-bats this season — highest in MLB.

Pirates Hitting Stats & Trends

The Pirates are batting .271 at home this season — 2nd best in MLB.

Pirates hitters have an OBP of .349 (2,965 PA’s) at home this season — tied for 2nd best in MLB.

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

Pirates hitters have an OBP of .339 (4,093 PA’s) against RHP this season — 3rd best in MLB.

Royals Pitching Stats & Trends

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

Royals pitchers have a strikeout rate of just 37% with two-strikes this season — 2nd 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 19% with runners in scoring position this season — 4th lowest in MLB.

Pirates Pitching Stats & Trends

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

The Pirates have won just 25% of games in which their opponents scored first this season — 3rd lowest in MLB.

Pirates pitchers have allowed 149 home runs this season — tied for fewest in MLB.

The Pirates pitchers have allowed their opponents to score first in just 39% of their games on the road this season — tied for 3rd 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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