Royals play the Pirates leading series 1-0

Updated Sep. 14, 2024 4:00 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Kansas City Royals (81-67, second in the AL Central) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (70-77, fifth in the NL Central)

Pittsburgh; Saturday, 1:05 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Michael Wacha (12-7, 3.34 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 130 strikeouts); Pirates: Mitch Keller (11-9, 3.85 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 153 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Pirates -111, Royals -108; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates are 70-77 overall and 37-39 in home games. The Pirates have gone 33-60 in games when they have allowed at least one home run.

The Royals have an 81-67 record overall and a 36-37 record on the road. The Royals have the sixth-ranked team ERA in the AL at 3.87.

Saturday's game is the second time these teams square off this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates with a .281 batting average, and has 28 doubles, three triples, 22 home runs, 51 walks and 84 RBI. Nick Gonzales is 11-for-34 with four RBI over the last 10 games.

Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with a .332 batting average, and has 42 doubles, 11 triples, 30 home runs, 47 walks and 99 RBI. Salvador Perez is 12-for-34 with two home runs and nine RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 6-4, .229 batting average, 4.15 ERA, outscored by two runs

Royals: 6-4, .222 batting average, 2.90 ERA, outscored opponents by seven 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: 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.