The Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals clash Tuesday in game 2 of an MLB series at Kauffman Stadium. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pirates look for a win after splitting their last 10 games. The Pirates have the third-worst record in the NL at 59-73. The Pirates pitching staff is 22nd in ERA (4.57), 22nd in WHIP (1.39) and 14th in quality starts (46). The Pirates’ offense is 24th in runs per game (4.18), 27th in batting average (.235) and 27th in homers (127). Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates with 122 hits and 64 RBI, while Ke’Bryan Hayes and Andrew McCutchen have combined for 197 hits and 90 RBI. Colin Selby gets the ball, and he is 1-0 with a 5.91 ERA and 16 strikeouts this season. This will be Selby’s first career game against the Royals.

Pittsburgh Pirates Team Facts

• The Pirates have lost each of their last nine road games following a win.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games against the Royals following a win.
• The Pirates have led after 7 innings in each of their last four night games against opponents that held a losing record.

Kansas City Royals Betting Preview

The Royals look to snap a 4-game losing streak. The Royals have the second-worst record in the AL at 41-92. The Royals pitching staff is 28th in ERA (5.22), 26th in WHIP (1.42) and 29th in quality starts (28). The Royals’ offense is 29th in runs per game (3.95), 20th in batting average (.241) and 26th in homers (127). Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with 146 hits and 81 RBI, while Salvador Perez and MJ Melendez have combined for 218 hits and 101 RBI. Cole Ragans gets the ball, and he is 5-4 with a 3.66 ERA and 71 strikeouts this season. This will be Ragans’ first career game against the Pirates.

Kansas City Royals Team Facts

• The Royals have lost each of their last six night games after playing the previous day.
• The Royals have covered the run line in each of their last nine Tuesday games against NL Central opponents.
• The Royals have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last four night games against opponents that held a losing record.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last three games.
• The Royals have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four night games against opponents that held a losing record.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Kansas City Royals ranks 2nd in the league for triples this season (35).
• The Kansas City Royals ranks 29th in the league for on-base percentage this season (.298).
• The Pittsburgh Pirates ranks 27th in the league for batting average this season (.235).
• The Pittsburgh Pirates ranks 4th in the league for walks this season (466).

Randy’s Pick

I’m not running to the window to back Colin Selby and his 5.91 ERA in a short sample size, but the Pirates are the better team no matter how you slice it. The Royals are the second-worst team in baseball, and they don’t win enough despite being underdogs nightly to make bettors money. Cole Ragans has been the sharper pitcher and the Royals are at home, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not in the business of backing the Royals this season. It’s the Pirates or pass for me.