MLB Picks: Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals right-hander James Shields is 24-12 with a 3.21 ERA in 44 career August starts, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Thursday, as he prepares to face the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

Courtesy of SBR Forum, the Royals are minus-170 home favorites in the pro baseball odds, with the betting total sitting at 7.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this American League Central matchup from a betting perspective while offering up a prediction along the way.

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox have won a season-high five games in a row, including a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals as plus-157 road underdogs Wednesday.

White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana is 0-2 with a 3.96 ERA in six career outings in this division rivalry.

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals have dropped seven of their last nine games, but they've tallied an 8-2 record as home favorites of minus-150 to minus-175 this season.

Royals starting pitcher James Shields is 1-1 with a 1.73 ERA in four outings versus the Chicago White Sox in 2013.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers play the total, as the UNDER is 11-1 in umpire Phil Cuzzi's last 12 assignments behind home plate.

MLB Pick: Under 7.5 Runs

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