Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
First Pitch: 8:05 PM ET
Watch Live: MLB Network, Marquee Sports Network, Bally Sports Kansas City, MLB.TV
Chicago sits atop the NL Central, tied with the surging Brewers, while Kansas City remains in the AL Wild Card hunt despite a sub-.500 record.
This marks the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. The Cubs are 32–17 at home, while the Royals are 24–26 on the road, making this a tough test for Kansas City’s young rotation.
Starting Pitchers – July 21, 2025
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | WHIP | K/BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubs | Ryan Brasier (RHP, Opener) | 0–0 | 1.04 | 0.92 | 4.67 |
| Royals | Noah Cameron (LHP) | 3–4 | 2.31 | 1.00 | 2.64 |
- Ryan Brasier will open for Chicago, with Ben Brown expected to handle bulk innings. Brasier has been sharp in short stints, allowing just 1 ER in 8.2 IP this month.
- Noah Cameron, a rookie standout, has posted a 2.31 ERA over 12 starts, including 6.2 shutout innings vs. the Mets in his last outing.
Players to Watch
Chicago Cubs
- Pete Crow-Armstrong: 26 HR, 3 doubles in last 5 games; ranks 6th in MLB in homers
- Seiya Suzuki: .545 SLG, 26 HR, 80 RBI; team leader in power production
- Dansby Swanson: .261 AVG vs. LHP, 95.3 mph exit velocity over last 15 ABs
- Nico Hoerner: .288 AVG, 13-for-38 over last 10 games; consistent contact hitter
Kansas City Royals
- Bobby Witt Jr.: .289 AVG, 33 doubles, 14 HR; ranks 45th in MLB in RBI
- Maikel Garcia: .292 AVG; All-Star third baseman with elite bat-to-ball skills
- Salvador Pérez: 15 HR; veteran catcher approaching 300 career homers
Team Comparison – Key Stats
| Category | Cubs | Royals |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Avg | .251 | .256 |
| Slugging % | .445 | .403 |
| Home Runs | 148 (3rd MLB) | 77 (29th MLB) |
| Runs/Game | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| Team ERA | 3.52 | 3.23 |
| Last 10 Games | 6–4 | 6–4 |
Chicago’s offense ranks among the top five in MLB, while Kansas City’s pitching staff boasts the second-best ERA in baseball. The Royals rely heavily on their arms, as their lineup ranks near the bottom in OPS and home runs.
Game Odds
Kansas City Royals 8
Chicago Cubs – 138
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Sunday, July 20, 2025
