Kansas City Royals at Chicago Cubs: Game 2 Preview & Matthew Boyd Matchup (July 22, 2025)

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025

Game Preview: Kansas City Royals at Chicago Cubs (July 22, 2025)

The Kansas City Royals are set to face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM CT. This matchup continues a three-game series where the Royals currently hold a 1-0 lead.

Matchup Details

The Kansas City Royals enter this contest with a 49-52 record, placing them third in the AL Central. The Chicago Cubs, with a stronger 59-41 record, are second in the NL Central.

The game will be played in Chicago at Wrigley Field, kicking off at 7:05 PM Central Time.

Pitching Matchup

For the Kansas City Royals, Richard Hill is expected to start. His record stands at 0-0. The Chicago Cubs will counter with Matthew Boyd, who boasts an impressive 10-3 record with a 2.34 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 102 strikeouts.

Betting Lines

The Chicago Cubs are favored at -260, while the Kansas City Royals are listed at +209. The over/under for total runs in the game is set at 9.

Series Status and Season Performance

The Royals currently lead the three-game series 1-0 against the Cubs. This will be the second time these two teams have played each other this season.

The Cubs have a strong home record of 32-18 and are 59-41 overall. Their team batting average of .256 ranks fourth best in MLB. The Royals hold a 25-26 road record and are 49-52 overall. Kansas City's pitching staff has been a highlight, collective 3.50 ERA, which is ranked second in MLB.

Key Players

For the Cubs, Kyle Tucker has been a significant contributor with 19 doubles, four triples, and 18 home runs. Carson Kelly has been in excellent form over the last 10 games, batting 12 for 36 with three doubles, four home runs, and five RBI.

On the Royals side, Bobby Witt Jr. leads the offense with 14 home runs, 31 walks, and 56 RBI while maintaining a .288 batting average. Salvador Perez has been hot in the past 10 games, going 15 for 36 with three doubles, seven home runs, and 10 RBI.

Recent Form

The Chicago Cubs have a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, with a .240 batting average and a 4.66 ERA, having been outscored by 11 runs. The Kansas City Royals are 6-4 over their last 10 contests, posting a .268 batting average and a 3.64 ERA, outscoring opponents by 10 runs.

Injury Report

The Cubs are currently dealing with several injuries, including Pete Crow-Armstrong (day-to-day with knee issues), Porter Hodge (15-Day IL, shoulder), Jameson Taillon (15-Day IL, calf), Miguel Amaya (10-Day IL, oblique), Eli Morgan (60-Day IL, elbow), Javier Assad (60-Day IL, oblique), and Justin Steele (60-Day IL, elbow).

The Royals also have a number of players on the injured list: Michael Lorenzen (15-Day IL, oblique), 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), and James McArthur (60-Day IL, elbow).

In summary

The Kansas City Royals (49-52) visit the Chicago Cubs (59-41) on July 22, 2025, at 7:05 PM CT, with the Royals leading the series 1-0. Matthew Boyd (10-3, 2.34 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Cubs, while Richard Hill (0-0) takes the mound for the Royals. The Cubs are favored in this matchup, which features two teams with strong offensive and pitching performances respectively, and a notable list of injured players on both sides.

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