Royals and Cubs play to determine series winner

Updated Jul. 28, 2024 4:01 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Chicago Cubs (50-56, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (57-48, third in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Sunday, 2:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Javier Assad (4-3, 3.15 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 81 strikeouts); Royals: Cole Ragans (7-6, 3.23 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 146 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Royals -173, Cubs +145; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs meet on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series.

Kansas City is 57-48 overall and 36-21 in home games. The Royals have the 10th-best team batting average in MLB play at .251.

Chicago has a 50-56 record overall and a 23-31 record in road games. The Cubs have a 20-6 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.

Sunday's game is the third time these teams match up this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bobby Witt Jr. has 18 home runs, 30 walks and 71 RBI while hitting .342 for the Royals. Vinnie Pasquantino is 13-for-39 with a double and five RBI over the past 10 games.

Ian Happ has 16 home runs, 53 walks and 60 RBI while hitting .232 for the Cubs. Seiya Suzuki is 12-for-37 with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 5-5, .282 batting average, 3.89 ERA, outscored opponents by nine runs

Cubs: 4-6, .219 batting average, 3.24 ERA, outscored by two runs

INJURIES: Royals: MJ Melendez: 10-Day IL (ankle), Dan Altavilla: 60-Day IL (oblique), Josh Taylor: 60-Day IL (biceps), Kyle Wright: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Cubs: Tomas Nido: 10-Day IL (knee), Ben Brown: 60-Day IL (neck), Luke Little: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Hayden Wesneski: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jordan Wicks: 60-Day IL (oblique), Cody Bellinger: 10-Day IL (finger), Colten Brewer: 60-Day IL (hand), Keegan Thompson: 15-Day IL (rib), Yency Almonte: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Adbert Alzolay: 60-Day IL (forearm), Caleb Kilian: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

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