The Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals begin a two-game interleague set at Kauffman Stadium on Monday night.
Both teams have struggled over the past month but the Royals are just one game below .500 and are big -202 favorites tonight.
Here are our best free Pirates vs. Royals picks and predictions for MLB betting action on Monday, May 31, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Pirates vs Royals game info
• Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
• Date: Monday, May 31, 2021
• Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
Pirates vs Royals odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Pirates vs Royals betting preview
Starting pitchers
Chad Kuhl (0-1, 6.32 ERA): The 28-year-old will be making his first start since April 18 after being sidelined for the last six weeks with a shoulder injury. Kuhl has struggled this season, pitching to a 6.32 ERA with a 1.79 WHIP in four starts. He had a 4.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 11 games last year.
Mike Minor (3-2, 4.83 ERA): The lefty has been up-and-down in his first season in Kansas City, pitching to a 1.24 WHIP with an opponent batting average of .225 in 10 starts but posting an ERA of 4.83. Minor is coming off a strong outing against the Rays, where he allowed just two hits and one run while striking out nine batters through five innings.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Pirates: Phillip Evans 3B (Out), Colin Moran 3B (Out).
Royals: Jorge Soler RF (Questionable).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Pirates are 8-19 in their last 27 games against teams with a losing record. Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Royals.
Moneyline pick
The Pirates are coming off a 4-3 loss to the Rockies and are just 8-21 in their last 29 games. The Royals are fresh off a victory over the Twins yesterday but have really cooled off after a sizzling start to the year, losing 11 games in a row earlier this month.
Both of these teams have been brutal at the dish, with the Pirates ranking second-last in the majors with an OPS of .650 while the Royals are 23rd with an OPS of .677. Both teams also have unreliable starters with Pittsburgh's Chad Kuhl getting rocked in three of his four starts this year while Royals lefty Mike Minor has an ERA of 5.37 since the start of last season.
If I could fade both of these teams I would, but as bad as the Royals lineup has been, they're still much better than Pittsburgh. Kansas City has a respectable .714 OPS and plates 4.4 runs per game at home, while the Pirates have an OPS of .616 and average just 3.0 runs per game on the road.
And while Minor has been inconsistent ever since making the All-Star game in 2019, Kuhl is not just inconsistent but also rusty after missing well over a month with a shoulder injury.
With the Bucs just 17-46 in their last 63 games on the road and the Royals 15-7 in their previous 22 contests as a favorite at Kauffman Stadium, back the home side.
PREDICTION: Kansas City (-202)
Over/Under pick
The Pirates are dead-last in the majors in scoring but with Kuhl and Minor toeing the rubber there's reason to consider the Over.
The Pirates are 6-1 O/U in Kuhl's last sevens starts going back to last September. That span includes a game on the road in Kansas City where the Pittsburgh right-hander was eviscerated for nine earned runs before getting the hook midway through the third inning.
Minor has surrendered at least four runs in five of his 10 starts this year, including a matchup against the Pirates on April 28 where he gave up five runs in a 9-6 Royals victory.
With the Royals going 10-4 to the Over in their last 14 games at home, take the Over tonight.
PREDICTION: Over 8 (-110)
Pirates vs Royals betting card
- Kansas City ML (-202)
- Over 8 (-110)
Picks made on 5/31/2021 at 12:45 a.m. ET
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