Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions July 21st 2025

Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City Royals July 21st 2025

The Kansas City Royals will visit the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Monday, July 21, 2025. The game is set to start at 8:05 PM and will be broadcast on MLBN. Fans can expect a warm night with a clear sky and a light breeze blowing out.

The Royals, managed by Matt Quatraro, have a season record of 48-52. They are 12 games behind in the AL Central. On the mound for Kansas City will be Noah Cameron, who has an ERA of 2.31. The Cubs, led by Craig Counsell, hold a 59-40 record and are strong at home with a 32-17 record. Ryan Brasier will start for the Cubs, boasting a 1.04 ERA.

Royals vs Cubs Key Information

• Sport: Baseball
• Teams: Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago Cubs
• Venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
• Date: Monday, July 21, 2025
• Betting Odds: Royals Moneyline +120, Cubs Moneyline -141, Royals Runline +1.5 (-184), Cubs Runline -1.5 (+152), Total Over 8.0 (-115), Total Under 8.0 (-106)

The Royals Can Win If…

The Kansas City Royals are coming off a solid win against the Miami Marlins, 7-4. Kris Bubic pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. Salvador Perez stood out with a home run and two runs scored, while Jonathan India and Jac Caglianone each added key RBIs.

The Royals have been strong in pitching, ranking second in the league with a 3.48 ERA. Their ability to limit opponents’ batting average to .234 ranks them fifth. With Noah Cameron starting, who has a 2.31 ERA, the Royals have a good chance to control the game on the mound.

Offensively, the Royals rely on players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino. Witt Jr. holds a .289 batting average with 14 home runs, and Pasquantino has 15 home runs with a .267 average. The team’s rank of third in doubles highlights their potential to generate extra-base hits and score runs.

The Cubs Can Win If…

The Chicago Cubs are coming off a tough loss to the Boston Red Sox, 6-1. Despite the loss, Cade Horton had a strong performance on the mound, allowing no runs over 5 2/3 innings. Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong each contributed with two hits, showing their potential at the plate.

The Cubs have shown they can win with their strong hitting stats. They rank 3rd in batting average at .256 and slugging percentage at .447. Their power is evident with 148 home runs, placing them 3rd in the league.

Ryan Brasier will start for the Cubs, boasting an impressive ERA of 1.04 and WHIP of 0.92. The Cubs lineup is filled with key hitters like Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong, both with 26 home runs. The team’s ability to hit and Brasier’s pitching could lead them to victory.

Cubs Riding Momentum in NL, Host Run-Starved Royals at Wrigley

The Chicago Cubs return to Wrigley Field on Monday with a share of the National League’s best record, kicking off an interleague set against the Kansas City Royals.

Despite dropping Sunday’s finale 6-1 to the Boston Red Sox, the Cubs have taken back-to-back series from postseason hopefuls in Boston and the New York Yankees. That momentum has kept them locked in a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Brewers atop the NL Central at 59-40.

Even with Sunday’s loss, Cubs left fielder Ian Happ sees growth.

“This group really believes in itself,” Happ said. “We played solid, fundamental baseball all series. A few swings the other way and today could’ve flipped too.”

Chicago Taps Brasier in Bullpen Opener

Chicago will turn to reliever Ryan Brasier (0-0, 1.04 ERA) to start what is expected to be a bullpen game. Brasier has been dominant in limited action, allowing just two earned runs across 17 1/3 innings with 14 strikeouts. While primarily a reliever, he’s started five games in his career, including four last season with the Dodgers.

Against the Royals, Brasier has been sharp, allowing one run over 6 1/3 career innings.

The Lean

The Cubs are favored with a moneyline of -141 against the Royals, who are at +120. The Cubs have a stronger batting average and slugging percentage, ranking 3rd in both categories. My model projects the Cubs to win with a score of 5-3. Based on these factors, the recommendation is to pick the Cubs to win straight up.

The total for the game is set at 8.0, with the over at -115 and the under at -106. The Cubs’ pitching has a 3.80 ERA, while the Royals have a 3.48 ERA. My model projects a total score of 8 runs. Given this projection, the recommendation is to take the over for this game.

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Kansas City Struggles to Score, But Pitching Stands Tall

The Royals arrive in Chicago for their fifth straight interleague matchup, fresh off a 7-4 win over the Miami Marlins that helped them avoid a sweep. But the offense has been a concern all season — Kansas City ranks last in the American League with just 343 runs, barely ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates across MLB.

Even so, Kansas City has put up seven runs in two of its last three games, offering a rare spark from a lineup that’s struggled to string together quality at-bats.

What’s kept them afloat is a surprisingly strong pitching staff, ranked second in MLB with a team ERA of 3.49. That effort is anchored by promising rookie Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.31 ERA), who takes the mound on Monday.

Cameron, 26, has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three straight starts. In his most recent outing, he blanked the New York Mets over 6 2/3 innings while striking out eight.

“When you can command the ball and get great defense, it becomes an easy day,” Cameron said.

The former seventh-round pick will face the Cubs for the first time, and Kansas City will aim for its first series win over Chicago since sweeping them in August 2021.

For full betting coverage, expert predictions, and real-time odds on this matchup, visit our MLB Picks, MLB Scores and Odds, and MLB Expert Guide.