The Chicago Cubs are set to battle the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 28, 2024, starting at 2:10 PM under clear skies. Javier Assad, with a strong ERA of 3.147, will take the mound for the Cubs, while the Royals will counter with Cole Ragans, who has an ERA of 3.228.

In the 2024 NL Central Division, the Cubs are currently 12th with a 50-56 record, showing a .47 winning percentage and a 5th place in their division with a 13-23 divisional record. They come into this matchup with a mixed recent form, having won 4 of their last 10 games and breaking a losing streak with a recent victory. Home and away games have seen them perform unevenly, with a slightly better record at home.

Facing them, the Royals rank 5th in the AL Central Division with a 57-48 record, a winning percentage of .54, and strong performances within their division (19-10). The team’s overall recent form includes 5 wins out of the last 10 games, though they’ve been struggling a bit on the road compared to their robust 36-21 home record.

Regarding the betting odds for this showdown: The point spread is set at -1.5, and the over/under for total runs is 8.5. The moneyline sits at -174 for the home team Royals, indicating their slight favoritism, whereas the Cubs are marked at +147. Bettors eyeing the underdog’s potential will find the Cubs’ moneyline tempting, while those betting on the favorites might prefer sticking with the Royals given their stronger home performance and better standing in their division.