The Detroit Tigers will be squaring off against their divisional rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the matchup and the game gets underway at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals Odds
Detroit (+100) is the underdog to Kansas City (-110) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total stand at -110 for both the over and the under. Gamblers can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at -210 for the Tigers +1.5 runs and +175 for the Royals -1.5 runs.
The Tigers are 53-79 SU and are 67-64 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 8.2 units for moneyline bettors and 6.8 units ATS. Detroit is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 41-91 SU and 62-69 ATS. They’ve lost 32.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 16.9 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in three of those seven.
Royals games have a 56-66-9 over/under record in 2018. Detroit has also been a strong under bet with a total record of 54-71-6.
Michael Fulmer will get the nod for the visiting Tigers. The right-handed Fulmer (3-9, 4.32 ERA) has racked up 97 punchouts in 116.2 innings so far. He’s 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 2.57 ERA against Kansas City this year.
The Royals are handing the ball to lefty Danny Duffy (7-11, 4.85 ERA), who has 135 punchouts and 66 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.49 WHIP. Duffy is 0-2 with eight strikeouts and an 11.32 ERA across two starts against Detroit this year.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have a 5.25 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.21 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 54 games against AL Central foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 5.18 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.28.
Kansas City’s hitters have put up 3.7 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game against divisional foes and 5.2 per game over their last five. The team has hit .284/.337/.500 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Royals’ offense has been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez. Merrifield is slashing .308/.375/.441 with 10 home runs, 47 RBIs, 64 runs and 28 stolen bases, and Perez’s line is .235/.274/.438 with 23 homers, 65 RBIs and 44 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starters own a 4.51 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 7.24 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.51, along with a WHIP of 1.31.
The Tigers offense has slashed .241/.301/.377 on its way to 3.8 runs scored per game this season, including 3.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and shortstop Jose Iglesias have paced Detroit’s offense. Castellanos is slashing .292/.346/.491 with 19 home runs, 73 RBIs and 70 runs scored, while Iglesias is hitting .267/.309/.388 with five homers, 48 RBIs, 42 runs and 15 stolen bases.
The Tigers have gained 5.0 units and are 20-13 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 17 of those games, compared to 15 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 27.3 units and are 40-50 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 42 of those games, compared to 41 that went under the total.
Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Detroit has logged 15 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Kansas City has 19 XBH over its last five.
- The Tigers have lost five of their last six games SU while the Royals have taken three of their last four.
- Detroit has posted 20 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 19 over its last five.
- The Tigers have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
