Pirates play the Royals looking to break road losing streak

Pittsburgh Pirates (38-55, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (45-48, second in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Wednesday, 7:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Bailey Falter (6-4, 3.69 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 56 strikeouts); Royals: Kris Bubic (7-6, 2.36 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 107 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Royals -201, Pirates +165; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Kansas City Royals looking to break a seven-game road slide.

Kansas City is 45-48 overall and 22-24 in home games. The Royals have gone 26-9 in games when they did not give up a home run.

Pittsburgh is 38-55 overall and 12-34 on the road. The Pirates are 26-14 in games when they record eight or more hits.

The teams match up Wednesday for the third time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Vinnie Pasquantino ranks fourth on the Royals with 28 extra base hits (12 doubles, a triple and 15 home runs). Bobby Witt Jr. is 15 for 40 with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs over the past 10 games.

Andrew McCutchen has 14 doubles, eight home runs and 31 RBIs for the Pirates. Oneil Cruz is 6 for 35 with a double and three home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 6-4, .228 batting average, 3.62 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs

Pirates: 5-5, .230 batting average, 2.33 ERA, outscored opponents by 16 runs

INJURIES: Royals: 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)

Pirates: Chase Shugart: 15-Day IL (knee), Ryan Borucki: 15-Day IL (back), Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Enmanuel Valdez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Justin Lawrence: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tim Mayza: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow), Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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