Kansas City will try to be nasty hosts on Thursday when the Chicago White Sox pay a visit to Kauffman Stadium.

It's a pitching duel between Jeff Francis for the Royals (5-16 on the year) and Mark Buehrle for Chicago (11-8 so far).



View Chi White Sox vs Kansas City Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
If you're backing the visitors in this one, you'll find the White Sox listed as favorites of 109 at most sportsbooks. Total bettors saw the number open in the area of 9, depending on the book.

Power Rankings:
It's a baseball betting matchup between the American League No. 10-rated Royals and the league No. 5-ranked White Sox, according to the latest MLB power poll here at Odds Shark.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Kansas City's No. 6-rated American League offense, averaging 4.4 runs per game, against a White Sox defense that ranks No. 5 in the American League at 4.3 in runs allowed per game. The Royals have averaged 9.4 hits per game so far, more than White Sox batters have averaged on the year (8.6 hits per game).

Defensively, Chicago features the American League's No. 4-rated defense on the road, allowing 4 runs per game. Kansas City, meanwhile, comes in at No. 6 in the American League at home, scoring 4.4 runs per game.

Last time out for Chicago, they were a 6-5 loser as they battled the Tigers at home. Moneyline bettors who got the Tigers at +103 were rewarded, while the 11 combined runs moved the game OVER for totals bettors. Chicago lost in extra innings against the Tigers on Wednesday as Detroit edged them 6-5 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Kansas City won its last outing, a 7-3 result against the Twins on September 14. Bettors who backed the Royals at -157 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (10) sent OVER bettors to the payout window. Kansas City rolled to a 7-3 win against Minnesota on Wednesday, as Luke Hochevar and the Royals' bats led the team to victory at Kauffman Stadium.


Chicago White Sox Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Kansas City are 4-6
After playing Detroit are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6

Kansas City Royals Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Chi White Sox are 5-5
After playing Minnesota are 4-6
After a win are 5-5

A few White Sox at Royals trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Chi White Sox's last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi White Sox's last 7 games when playing Kansas City
Chi White Sox are 14-7 SU in their last 21 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi White Sox's last 6 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Kansas City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas City's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas City's last 7 games when playing Chi White Sox
Kansas City is 11-5 SU in their last 16 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox


Next up:
Chi White Sox at Kansas City, Friday, September 16