Pittsburgh Pirates vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions September 14th 2024

At 1:05 PM ET, the Royals and Pirates square off in an interleague matchup. This one is being played at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, and the money line odds have the Royals at -109 compared to the Pirates at -109. The over/under line is sitting at 8 runs.

Kansas City is currently 2nd in the AL Central, while the Pirates are 5th in the NL Central. Michael Wacha will start for the Royals, and he is facing off against Mitch Keller. BSKC is carrying this game on TV.

Kansas City vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Royals at Pirates
• Where: PNC Park Pittsburgh
• Date: Saturday, September 14th
• Betting Odds PIT -109 | KC -109 O/U 8

The Royals Can Win If…

Kansas City is sending Michael Wacha to the mound today vs. the Pirates, and he comes into the game with a record of 12-7 and an ERA of 3.34. Wacha has made 26 starts this season and has turned in 14 quality starts. In his last outing, he pitched well, going seven innings and picking up the win. He didn’t give up a run in the outing and finished with seven strikeouts. Before that, he had given up at least two earned runs in three straight outings. Wacha’s ERA at home is 3.49, compared to 3.85 on the road.

Salvador Perez has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Royals, going 12/30 in his last nine games with two homers and nine RBIs. This has pushed his season average to .280, and he is currently 4th in the league with 103 RBIs. Perez is also on a five-game hitting streak. Bobby Witt Jr. has also been a key run producer for the Royals, as he is batting .332 with 30 homers and 99 RBIs.

As a team, the Royals are 9th in the league at 4.7 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are 7th in team batting average, hitting a combined .253. Kansas City’s offense is also one of the league’s best at avoiding strikeouts, as they have the 2nd fewest strikeouts in the league.

• The Royals are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Royals are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Kansas City has an over/under record of 2-7-1 in their last ten games.
• The Royals have an average of 4.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Royals are 3-7
• Looking back across the Royals last five games as the favorite, they are 5-0
• Kansas City has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Royals have averaged 4.0 runs per game on offense

The Pirates Can Win If…

Mitch Keller will be looking to bounce back from his last outing, where he finished with a no-decision. Against the Nationals, he went six innings and gave up two earned runs. Looking back further, Keller has given up three earned runs in three straight starts. He has a record of 11-9 this season and an ERA of 3.85. Keller has made 28 starts, and opponents are batting .250 this season. One of his 14 quality starts came in his last outing. Keller’s ERA at home is 3.14, compared to 5.34 on the road.

So far this season, the Pirates‘ offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 19th in the league. They have been a little better at home, averaging 4.4 runs per game. Overall, they are just 23rd in home runs and have a team batting average of .236, which is 17th in the league. One positive for the Pirates is that they are 10th in the league in BABIP.

Over his last six games, Bryan Reynolds has gone 8/24, but he is currently on a four-game hitting streak. Reynolds leads the Pirates with 84 RBIs and is also atop the team’s home run leaderboard. Andrew McCutchen has gone 5/14 in his last four games and is hitting .238 for the season, with 20 homers.

• The Pirates are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Pirates are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Pittsburgh has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Pirates have an average of 4.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Pirates are 4-6
• Looking back across the Pirates last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Pittsburgh has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Pirates have averaged 3.1 runs per game on offense

Before placing any bets, ensure you review our comprehensive MLB Betting Guide to make informed decisions.

The Lean

Our lean for an over/under pick in this Royals vs. Pirates matchup is to take the over. This is our lowest projected scoring game of the day, but the line is sitting at 8 runs. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Royals to pick up the win. Kansas City starter Michael Wacha has the best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters, and Mitch Keller has the 3rd best innings pitched projection on today’s slate.

Royals Continue Playoff Push Against Pirates: Michael Wacha Set to Start as Kansas City Eyes Another Big Win

The Kansas City Royals are closing in on something they haven’t experienced since 2015—a playoff spot. With postseason dreams in sight, every game is critical. After an 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series opener, the Royals are looking to keep that momentum rolling as they gear up for the second game of this three-game set on Saturday.

Kansas City is just three games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the AL Central lead and currently holds the second AL wild card spot. With the pressure mounting, veteran pitcher Michael Wacha is set to take the mound, aiming to get his team one step closer to October baseball.

Royals’ Remarkable Turnaround

What a difference a year makes. After finishing with a dismal 56-106 record last season, the Royals have flipped the script in 2024. Friday’s win over Pittsburgh guaranteed them at least a .500 season with their 81st victory. Now sitting at 81-67, Kansas City is only two games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the top wild card and holds a 2.5-game cushion over the Minnesota Twins, who are clinging to the last playoff spot.

The Royals have shown resilience, bouncing back from a seven-game losing streak to win six of their last eight. Manager Matt Quatraro has his team focused and ready for the stretch run. “We need to keep winning,” Quatraro said. “Every game matters, and we’ve got to take it one day at a time.”

The offense has been firing on all cylinders. Friday’s game was broken wide open with a six-run second inning, fueled by home runs from Salvador Perez, Kyle Isbel, and Adam Frazier. Pitcher Alec Marsh also stepped up, striking out a season-high 11 batters over 5 1/3 innings. If the Royals can keep up this combination of power at the plate and dominance on the mound, they’ll be tough to beat.

Michael Wacha Leading the Charge

On Saturday, the Royals will turn to Michael Wacha, who has been a steady force in the rotation all season. Wacha (12-7, 3.34 ERA) is coming off a stellar performance, where he threw seven scoreless innings and struck out seven in a 2-0 win over the Minnesota Twins. Since May 9, Wacha has been on fire, posting an 11-3 record with a 2.62 ERA.

Wacha also has a solid track record against the Pirates. In 18 career appearances (16 starts) against Pittsburgh, he’s gone 7-3 with a 3.68 ERA. His experience and ability to control the game will be crucial as the Royals look to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Pirates Playing Spoiler

The Pirates may be out of the playoff picture for the ninth straight year, but they’re still playing with pride. Before falling to the Royals on Friday, Pittsburgh had won four straight games and looked like a team not ready to roll over. Even though they’re eliminated from postseason contention, the Pirates are looking to finish strong and take on the role of spoiler.

Luis Ortiz, who started on Friday, struggled, giving up seven runs (four earned) over four innings, while Pittsburgh’s offense didn’t come alive until a ninth-inning rally that ultimately fell short. On Saturday, the Pirates will turn to Mitch Keller (11-9, 3.85 ERA) to try and get them back on track.

Keller has had a solid season but has struggled in the past against Kansas City. In his only career start against the Royals, back in 2021, he gave up four runs in just 2 1/3 innings in a 9-6 loss. However, Keller is coming off a strong outing against the Washington Nationals, where he allowed just two runs over six innings while striking out eight. Pittsburgh will need Keller to keep that form if they hope to spoil Kansas City’s playoff run.

Kansas City’s Keys to Victory

The Royals’ path to the playoffs is clear: they need to keep winning. Salvador Perez and Kyle Isbel have been leading the way offensively, with timely hits and big home runs. Meanwhile, Wacha’s presence on the mound has been a calming force for the team, giving them confidence every time he starts.

Kansas City is playing meaningful September baseball for the first time in nearly a decade, and they’re embracing the pressure. “We’re in control of our own destiny,” Perez said. “If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’ll be where we want to be.”

Pirates Looking to Finish Strong

While their season won’t include a playoff run, the Pirates have plenty to play for. With young talents like Ortiz and Keller gaining valuable experience, Pittsburgh is focused on ending the year on a high note. Their role as spoilers gives them extra motivation, especially when going up against teams like Kansas City, who are fighting for a spot in October.

You can always refer to the current MLB Odds to stay up to date with the latest betting lines.

What to Watch For on Saturday

Royals’ Playoff Push: Kansas City is in the hunt for both the AL Central title and a wild card spot. Every game is a must-win, and they’ll need to keep the pressure on if they want to punch their ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2015.

Michael Wacha’s Dominance: Wacha has been lights out recently and will be looking to continue his hot streak. His ability to control the game and keep the Pirates’ bats quiet will be key to the Royals’ success.

Pirates Playing Spoiler: Pittsburgh may not be in the playoff mix, but they’re still fighting hard. Mitch Keller will take the mound looking to play the spoiler role and upset the Royals’ playoff plans.

Kansas City’s Offensive Surge: With Salvador Perez, Kyle Isbel, and Adam Frazier swinging hot bats, the Royals’ lineup has the potential to put up runs in a hurry. Their ability to continue hitting at the right moments could be the difference-maker down the stretch.

Conclusion

The Royals are on the verge of something special, and every win brings them closer to the playoffs. With Michael Wacha leading the way and a lineup that’s been producing timely hits, Kansas City is in a prime position to take another crucial win on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Pirates, with Mitch Keller on the mound, are looking to play spoiler and make things difficult for the Royals.

As Kansas City pushes toward October, their combination of strong pitching and clutch hitting will be key. For the Royals, the message is simple: keep winning, and the playoffs are within reach.