Kansas City Royals (67-88) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (78-77) September 20, 2026 1:35 pm EDT The Line: Pittsburgh Pirates +103 / Kansas City Royals -124; Over/Under: 8.5 (Get latest betting odds)
The Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Sunday in MLB action from PNC Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates prediction.
The Kansas City Royals will send out Michael Wacha for the start here and Wacha is 9-9 with a 3.34 ERA and 149 strikeouts this season. The Pittsburgh Pirates did not have a starting pitcher announced at the time that this article was posted.
The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to rebound from a 6-5 loss at the hands of the Pirates on Saturday to sit at 67-88 this season. After this series, the Royals will head home for a set against the Chicago White Sox.
Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with 145 hits while adding 30 doubles, a triple, 18 home runs, and 54 RBIs so far this season. Jac Caglianone has added 134 hits with 27 doubles, 2 triples, 23 home runs, and 70 RBIs, while Carter Jensen leads Kansas City with a team-high 24 home runs and 75 RBIs alongside 117 hits, 33 doubles, and 2 triples on the year. Salvador Perez has also contributed 125 hits with 23 doubles, a triple, 19 home runs, and 72 RBIs. Vinnie Pasquantino has chipped in 94 hits with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 13 home runs, and 51 RBIs, while Maikel Garcia has logged 77 hits with 19 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, and 34 RBIs for the Royals up to this point in the season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this game looking to add on to their win over KC on Saturday to improve to 78-77 on the year. After this series, Pittsburgh will take on St. Louis in a series at home.
Nick Gonzales leads the Pirates with a team-high 161 hits while adding 26 doubles, a triple, 6 home runs, and 60 RBIs so far this season. Bryan Reynolds has added 151 hits with 39 doubles, 2 triples, 17 home runs, and 71 RBIs, while Brandon Lowe leads Pittsburgh with a team-high 32 home runs and 91 RBIs alongside 145 hits, 29 doubles, and a triple on the year. Jake Mangum has contributed 116 hits with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, and 30 RBIs. Ryan O’Hearn has logged 101 hits with 15 doubles, 18 home runs, and 73 RBIs, while Oneil Cruz has chipped in 97 hits with 13 doubles, a triple, 19 home runs, and 66 RBIs up to this point in the season.
I’m on Kansas City here. The Royals have done nothing but fall flat in this series but I think this is a good spot for them to get back on track here. Wacha’s been one of the most underappreciated options in the Royals’ rotation this season and I look for the Royals to back him up here in what looks to be a bullpen game for the Pirates here. Give me Kansas City.