Explore Royals vs Pirates Expert Picks and Betting Guide - 9/18/2026

+155O/U: 8
(-110/-110)-180

Kansas City Royals – Moneyline (+155)
The Kansas City Royals infield defense grades out as the strongest among all the teams today.
Explain: Defense is an integral part of preventing hits and runs.
Jac Caglianone – Over/Under 1.5 Total Bases (+135/-175)
Jac Caglianone has seen a big gain in his exit velocity this season; just compare his 93.1-mph average to last year’s 89.4-mph EV.
Explain: Hitting the ball hard increases the chances of either a home run or the ball landing in fair territory for a hit before a fielder can get to it.
Salvador Perez – Over/Under Total Bases
Salvador Perez pulls a lot of his flyballs (35.9% — 86th percentile) and will have to hit them out towards MLB’s 10th-deepest LF fences today.
Explain: This player’s skill set does not match up particularly well with the park he’s in today, which may lead to worse-than-usual performance.

Paul Skenes – Over/Under 17.5 Pitching Outs (-115/-115)
Paul Skenes has been given a longer leash than the average pitcher this year, throwing 4.7 more adjusted pitches-per-game than the average starter.
Explain: Pitchers with a longer leash are more likely to go deeper into games and record more outs.
Ronny Simon – Over/Under Hits
Ronny Simon is an extreme groundball batter and squares off against the strong infield defense of Kansas City (#1-best on the slate).
Explain: This player’s skill set matches up poorly with the opposing team’s defensive strength, which may lead to worse-than-usual performance.
Pittsburgh’s 11.8° launch angle (a reliable stat to measure the ability to lift the ball for power) is among the most groundball-inducing in the league this year: #28 overall.
Explain: A low launch angle generally means the hitter struggles to lift the ball into the air, which is a key component for power and home runs.

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