Preview for Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Schedule and player information can change.
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals
The White Sox travel to Kansas City for a 7:40 PM ET matchup with Anthony Kay on the mound for Chicago against Daniel Lynch IV for the Royals. Kay has logged approximately 149.0 innings this season with a 4.41 ERA and a WP-calculated FIP of 4.84, while Lynch IV has worked around 76.7 innings with a 3.29 ERA and a 3.85 FIP. On the numbers presented, Lynch IV holds the lower ERA and the lower FIP of the two starters, suggesting a stronger run-prevention profile in this outing.
Looking at the team-level figures, Chicago's offense carries a WP-estimated wOBA of 0.314 compared to Kansas City's 0.310, giving the White Sox a slight edge on that measure. On the pitching side, the White Sox team ERA sits at 4.11 with a FIP of 4.33, both lower than the Royals' team ERA of 4.66 and FIP of 4.73, which points to Chicago's staff performing better overall by these figures even though Kansas City's starter for today grades out better individually.
Both rosters carry injury-related listings that are worth noting without projecting their impact. Luinder Avila and Christian Chamberlain are both listed on the 60-Day IL for Kansas City, while Ryan Bergert also appears on the 60-Day IL for the Royals. For Chicago, Brooks Baldwin and Aldrin Batista are listed on the 60-Day IL and Joey Bart is listed on the 10-Day IL. Taken together, the team-wide pitching numbers favor the White Sox, while the individual starter comparison favors Lynch IV over Kay for this particular game.
Statistical scope: MLB Stats API; 2026 regular season season-to-date; exact statistical through-date not supplied.
WP selection: Royals +1.5. Confidence: Slight Lean.
The selection is supplied separately by WP. The comparisons above do not establish why the model made this selection.
WP home-run candidate for Royals: Jac Caglianone. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
WP home-run candidate for White Sox: Munetaka Murakami. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
Predictions are uncertain; no outcome is guaranteed. Check the picks page for the latest available selections.