Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – 9/13/20 MLB Pick, Odds, and Prediction

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Kansas City Royals meet Sunday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. 

This will be the final installment of a three-game weekend series between these teams. The Royals eked out a 4-3 win on Friday in the opener. In the Saturday matchup, the Pirates jumped out to a 3-1 lead before Kansas City recovered, and the Royals eventually triumphed with a 7-4 win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place. 

The Pirates were out-hit 13-8 in the Saturday game, and had a brief lead before the Royals were able to overcome it. Pittsburgh’s Adam Frazier led the team with a 2-for-4 effort, a solo homer and two RBI. Starting pitcher Trevor Williams got into some trouble with 5.0 innings, 10 hits, six earned, three walks, two homers allowed and four strikeouts.  

For the Sunday game, Pittsburgh will be sending out Chad Kuhl as the starter. In eight games (six starts) this season, Kuhl is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 32.0 innings. On his MLB career, Kuhl is 19-21 with a 4.28 ERA and 304 Ks in 345.0 innings. 

Over on the Royals’ side, starting pitcher Carlos Hernandez went 3.0 innings with three earned, no walks and two strikeouts on Saturday, and the bullpen only allowed one earned after that. Alex Gordon led the way on offense with three hits, one RBI and one run. 

In the Sunday starting role, the Royals will send out Brad Keller. Over six starts this year, Keller is 3-2 with a 2.60 ERA and 24 Ks in 34.2 innings of work. On his MLB career, Keller is 19-22 with a 3.27 ERA and 242 Ks in 340.1 innings total. 

The Pirates are 18-39 in their last 57 overall and 18-39 in their last 57 road games. Pittsburgh is 17-35 in their last 52 games as an underdog and 8-25 in their last 33 during game three of a series. 

Meanwhile, the Royals are 12-28 in their last four games versus the National League Central and 15-37 in their last 52 Sunday games. The under is 4-0 in Kansas City’s last four during game three of a series and 5-0 in their last five Sunday games. 

Pick: This might be an okay spot to try the Pirates. The variables in the starting pitcher matchup are pretty tricky, though. Keller’s last start came against the Indians, and he went 6.2 innings with five runs (four earned) on eight hits in that one. As for Kuhl, he was limited to 64 pitches in his last start on Sunday and did okay with three innings, two runs, four walks and five strikeouts. Provided Kuhl can keep the free passes under control and give Pitt some length here, I think the Pirates have a decent chance as a value play.