The Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs clash in the rubber match of their three-game interleague series as first pitch is scheduled for 2:20 PM ET, with the Cubs looking to build on Tuesday’s 6–0 shutout win, while the Royals aim to bounce back behind ace Seth Lugo.
Matchup Overview
- Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
- Time: 2:20 PM ET
- Broadcast: MARQ (Cubs), FDSKC (Royals), MLB Network
- Streaming: MLB.TV, FuboTV (regional restrictions may apply)
Starting Pitchers
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | WHIP | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubs | Colin Rea (RHP) | 8–3 | 3.80 | 1.09 | 70 |
| Royals | Seth Lugo (RHP) | 6–5 | 2.94 | 1.09 | 93 |
- Colin Rea has been lights-out in July, posting a 1.45 ERA across three starts and allowing just 1 ER total in that span. He’s held opponents to a .262 batting average and has five quality starts in 2025.
- Seth Lugo has been a model of consistency, with 10 quality starts and a .221 opponent batting average. He’s struck out 11 Cubs batters in 63 ABs and has hit the Over on strikeouts in six straight starts.
Key Players to Watch
Chicago Cubs
- Pete Crow-Armstrong: .270 AVG, 26 HR, 72 RBI – batting .308 in July; 5 straight games with Over 1.5 total bases.
- Kyle Tucker: .276 AVG, 18 HR, 57 RBI – ranks top 30 in MLB in homers and RBI.
- Nico Hoerner: .285 AVG – 2-for-5 with an RBI Tuesday; team leader in batting average.
- Seiya Suzuki: 26 HR, 80 RBI – consistent power bat with .540 xSLG.
Kansas City Royals
- Bobby Witt Jr.: .288 AVG, 14 HR, 56 RBI – hitting .351 vs. lefties; 5 hits in last 6 games.
- Salvador Perez: 17 HR, 60 RBI – 6 HR and 8 RBI in last 10 games.
- Maikel Garcia: .291 AVG – team leader in batting average; 26 doubles.
- Vinnie Pasquantino: .264 AVG, 15 HR – steady middle-of-the-order bat.
Team Stats & Trends
| Category | Cubs | Royals |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | .256 (3rd MLB) | .245 (19th MLB) |
| Slugging Percentage | .446 (2nd) | .378 (24th) |
| Home Runs | 150 (3rd) | 81 (29th) |
| Runs Scored | 533 (2nd) | 355 (29th) |
| Team ERA | 3.83 (6th NL) | 3.78 (AL Top 5) |
| OBP | .324 (6th) | .299 (26th) |
- Chicago is 33–18 at home and has won 69.6% of games as favorites.
- Kansas City is 25–27 on the road and has won 46.8% of games as underdogs.
Final Takeaway
The Royals vs. Cubs matchup features two veteran pitchers in peak form and two lineups with contrasting identities. Chicago’s power-heavy offense, led by Crow-Armstrong, Suzuki, and Tucker, faces off against Kansas City’s contact-oriented approach anchored by Witt Jr., Garcia, and Perez. With Colin Rea surging and Seth Lugo steady, expect a tight, low-scoring affair with playoff implications and strong betting value.
Game Odds
Kansas City Royals 10
Chicago Cubs – 147
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Tuesday, July 22, 2025
