The sting of having dealt away core stars Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo could be wearing off for the Cubs. They've won two in a row. 
But the respect for the Cubs remains well down. How down? The oddsmaker opened the Royals a road favorite with Kansas City starting Brad Keller. 
Keller is 7-12 with a 5.62 ERA. He's in bad form, too, going 0-3 with a 6.14 ERA during his last three starts. He has a 5.88 day time ERA.

I'm not enamored of Cubs starter Zach Davies. But he's off a positive start holding the Marlins to three unearned runs on four hits in six innings this past Saturday. Davies struck out seven and walked just one. He is 3-1 in day games with a 2.85 ERA. I would take him above Keller.  

The Royals are bad on the road going 20-37.