Ah, we've got a real doozy of a game here. The plucky Pittsburgh Pirates are packing their bags to visit the Kansas City Royals. The Pirates seem to be swimming against the tide this season. Standing at a rather dreary 38-55, their performance has been a touch lackluster. The Royals, though not quite royalty themselves this season holding a record of 45-48, have had their own share of wins.
Kauffman Stadium is the stage for this spectacle with its notorious Park Factor that could have our players swing a little harder, and our pitchers pitch a little tighter. Watch out for those flying balls now.
The Pirates are served up by Bailey Falter - a promising pitcher who's been whipping up a storm with his 3.83 ERA and 5.6 K/9. Hard to ignore the skills of the man, even though he does have a bit of competition on the other side. Kris Bubic is leading the charge for the Royals and boy, has he delivered this season. Fella sports a 2.48 ERA and a whopping 9.5 K/9. Not too shabby, eh?
Now let's not forget the men wielding the wooden weaponry. The Pirates bring to the plate some exceptional talent in the form of Tommy Pham and Nick Gonzales, both boasting batting averages north of 0.290. Over in the other dugout, Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez have been hitting wonders for the Royals considering their healthy numbers.
Based on what we've seen before in past matchups, there's a bit of a love-hate relationship here between the two sides. Some days are Pirates' days, others...well, the Royals get to wear the crown.
Reflecting upon recent results, it would seem that fortune favors the Royals. They've got a winning momentum going and that might just nudge the scales in their direction. As with all games, take what I say with a pinch of salt and may the odds ever be in your favor.
Albert’s Prediction: Kansas City Royals by 2