Royals vs Pirates Game Highlights – Sunday, September 20, 2026

Kansas City Royals

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Pittsburgh Pirates

Kansas City Royals Insights

• Michael Wacha – Over/Under Pitching Outs
  Michael Wacha has been given a longer leash than the typical pitcher this year, tallying 5.2 more adjusted pitches-per-outing than league average.
  Explain: Pitchers with a longer leash are more likely to go deeper into games and record more outs.
• Jac Caglianone – Over/Under Total Bases
  Jac Caglianone has seen a significant improvement in his exit velocity recently; just compare his 98.7-mph average in the last week to his seasonal 93.1-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.
• Kansas City Royals – 2H Moneyline
  The Kansas City Royals bullpen projects as the worst in baseball, according to the leading projection system (THE BAT).
  Explain: Most bettors only consider the starting pitcher, but a weak bullpen sneakily creates an easier matchup for the opposing offense and boosts a game’s runs.

Pittsburgh Pirates Insights

• Pittsburgh Pirates – 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline (-105)
  With 7 bats who hit from the other side in the opposing team’s projected lineup, Lake Bachar encounters a tough challenge while lacking the platoon advantage in most plate appearances in this matchup.
  Explain: Right-handed pitchers perform worse against left-handed hitters (and visa-versa). If several hitters hold this advantage against the pitcher, it can have a huge impact on whether he will perform well or struggle on any given day.
• Oneil Cruz – Over/Under Hits
  Kansas City’s #2-ranked outfield defense of all teams on the slate today poses a formidable challenge for Oneil Cruz, who tends to hit a lot of flyballs.
  Explain: This player’s skill set matches up poorly with the opposing team’s defensive strength, which may lead to worse-than-usual performance.
• Henry Davis – Over/Under Total Bases
  Henry Davis pulls a high percentage of his flyballs (38.8% — 95th percentile) but may find it hard to clear baseball’s 10th-deepest LF fences in today’s matchup.
  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.