Royals aim to sweep series against the Pirates

Updated Sep. 15, 2024 4:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Kansas City Royals (82-67, second in the AL Central) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (70-78, fifth in the NL Central)

Pittsburgh; Sunday, 1:35 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Brady Singer (9-10, 3.42 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 153 strikeouts); Pirates: Jared Jones (6-7, 3.82 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 115 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Pirates -112, Royals -107; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates square off in the final game of a three-game series. The Royals will sweep the series with a win.

The Pirates are 70-78 overall and 37-40 in home games. The Pirates have a 49-17 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.

The Royals are 82-67 overall and 37-37 in road games. The Royals have gone 52-19 in games when they scored five or more runs.

The teams meet Sunday for the third time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Andrew McCutchen has 17 doubles, a triple and 20 home runs for the Pirates. Jared Triolo is 11-for-32 with a double and two home runs over the last 10 games.

Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with 85 extra base hits (43 doubles, 11 triples and 31 home runs). Tommy Pham is 12-for-42 with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 5-5, .229 batting average, 4.65 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

Royals: 7-3, .230 batting average, 2.60 ERA, outscored opponents by 13 runs

INJURIES: Pirates: Henry Davis: 10-Day IL (hand), Ben Heller: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Hunter Stratton: 60-Day IL (patella), Ke'Bryan Hayes: 10-Day IL (herniated disc), Marco Gonzales: 60-Day IL (forearm), Daulton Jefferies: 60-Day IL (elbow), Dauri Moreta: 60-Day IL (elbow), Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Royals: Chris Stratton: 15-Day IL (forearm), Vinnie Pasquantino: 10-Day IL (thumb), Michael Lorenzen: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Will Smith: 15-Day IL (back), Hunter Harvey: 15-Day IL (back), Josh Taylor: 60-Day IL (biceps), Kyle Wright: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.