Cubs and Royals play to determine series winner

By Canadian Press on July 23, 2025.

Kansas City Royals (49-53, fourth in the AL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (60-41, first in the NL Central)

Chicago; Wednesday, 2:20 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Seth Lugo (6-5, 2.94 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 93 strikeouts); Cubs: Colin Rea (8-3, 3.80 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 70 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cubs -147, Royals +123; over/under is 10 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals play on Wednesday with the winner claiming the three-game series.

Chicago has a 60-41 record overall and a 33-18 record at home. The Cubs have the sixth-ranked team ERA in the NL at 3.83.

Kansas City has a 25-27 record in road games and a 49-53 record overall. The Royals are 36-11 in games when they out-hit their opponents.

Wednesday’s game is the third time these teams match up this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Tucker has 19 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs and 57 RBIs for the Cubs. Carson Kelly is 12 for 35 with three doubles, three home runs and five RBIs over the past 10 games.

Maikel Garcia has a .291 batting average to lead the Royals, and has 26 doubles, three triples and eight home runs. Salvador Perez is 14 for 36 with six home runs and eight RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 6-4, .248 batting average, 3.78 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs

Royals: 5-5, .252 batting average, 3.78 ERA, outscored by two runs

INJURIES: Cubs: Porter Hodge: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jameson Taillon: 15-Day IL (calf), Miguel Amaya: 10-Day IL (oblique), Eli Morgan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Javier Assad: 60-Day IL (oblique), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Royals: Michael Lorenzen: 15-Day IL (oblique), Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Mark Canha: 10-Day IL (elbow), Daniel Lynch: 15-Day IL (elbow), Michael Massey: 10-Day IL (ankle), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Associated Press