
CWS @ KC
Todays Game 3 Matchup Details
Sunday Nights Pitchers: White Sox Thorpe, Lugo Royals
Todays Game is on Sunday, July 21st
14:10:00 EST First Pitch @ Kauffman Stadium
White Sox at Royals Matchup Prediction for Today
The Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox will face off on July 21, 2024, at Kauffman Stadium for the third game in their American League Central series. The Royals, currently with a record of 54-45, are enjoying an above-average season and stand as favorites in this matchup. In contrast, the White Sox have a dismal record of 27-73, miring them at the bottom of the standings and ensuring a difficult challenge ahead. , Kansas City’s offensive unit ranks as the 16th-best in MLB, with notable strengths in team batting average (11th) and stolen bases (7th). Conversely, the White Sox’s offense ranks 30th overall, struggling particularly in team batting average (29th) and home runs (28th). This contrast in offensive firepower is likely to play a significant role in the game’s dynamics., On the mound, the Royals are projected to start Seth Lugo, a right-handed pitcher who boasts an impressive 11-4 win/loss record and an ERA of 2.48 this season. Lugo’s performance ranks him as the 80th-best starting pitcher according to THE BAT X, the leading MLB projection system. However, his 3.70 xFIP suggests that he has benefited from some good fortune and might see a regression. Nonetheless, Lugo projects to pitch well, averaging 6.1 innings, 2.6 earned runs, and 5.4 strikeouts., The White Sox will counter with Drew Thorpe, a right-hander who has started six games with a 3-1 win/loss record and a 3.58 ERA. Though Thorpe’s ERA is decent, his 5.37 xFIP signals potential trouble ahead due to some luck. Projections indicate an average outing for Thorpe, with 5.2 innings pitched, 2.8 earned runs, and just 3.4 strikeouts. , Moreover, Kansas City’s bullpen, ranked 17th in MLB, is considered average, while Chicago’s bullpen is ranked 30th, representing the worst in the league. This stark disparity could further tip the scales in favor of the Royals, especially if it comes down to late-inning relief.
Sunday Game 3 Prediction Explination for White Sox vs Royals Matchup
Andrew Thorpe’s high utilization rate of his secondary pitches (65.6% this year) ought to work in his favor since they are typically much more effective than fastballs., Drew Thorpe – Over/Under 2.5 Strikeouts (-150/+115), Paul DeJong has struggled with his Barrel% in recent games; his 9.8% seasonal rate has lowered to 0% over the last 14 days., Paul DeJong – Over/Under 0.5 Total Bases (-170/+130), The Chicago White Sox bullpen projects as the worst in MLB, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT)., Chicago White Sox – 2H Moneyline, Seth Lugo’s 91.7-mph velocity on his fastball this year is a substantial 1.1-mph drop off from last year’s 92.8-mph mark., Seth Lugo – Over/Under 5.5 Strikeouts (-110/-120), Adam Frazier has been cold lately, with his seasonal exit velocity of 83.8-mph dropping to 81.2-mph over the last two weeks., Adam Frazier – Over/Under 0.5 Total Bases (-185/+145), In today’s game, Hunter Renfroe is at a disadvantage facing the league’s 4th-deepest LF fences given that he hits his flyballs to the pull field at a 40% rate (98th percentile)., Hunter Renfroe – Over/Under 1.5 Total Bases (+130/-170), The Kansas City Royals have hit the Game Total Under in 22 of their last 34 games (+9.80 Units / 26% ROI), Over/Under 8.5 Game Total (+100/-120), The Chicago White Sox have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 14 of their last 23 away games (+5.25 Units / 20% ROI), Chicago White Sox – 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line , Andrew Benintendi has hit the Home Runs Over in 3 of his last 10 games (+17.00 Units / 170% ROI), Andrew Benintendi – Over/Under 0.5 Home Runs (+1200/-7000)
A pitcher who limits has fastball usage will instead heavily use change-ups, curveballs, sliders, etc. These are far more effective pitches at preventing runs and generating strikeouts., Barrel% measures how often a player hits the ball at the optimal exit velocity and launch angle and is a terrific measure of underlying power., Most bettors only consider the starting pitcher, but a weak bullpen sneakily creates an easier matchup for the opposing offense and boosts a game’s runs., Velocity is a key component to fastball success in generating strikeouts and preventing runs, so a pitcher whose velocity decreases will likely see worse results., Hitting the ball hard increases the chances of either a home run or the ball landing in fair territory for a hit before a fielder can get to it., This player’s skill set does not match up particularly well with the park he’s in today, which may lead to worse-than-usual performance.