The Detroit Tigers will take on their divisional rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The opening pitch is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will be showing the matchup.
Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Kansas City (-120) is hosting this one as the favorite against Detroit (+110) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this afternoons game at 8.5 runs (-105 for the over and -115 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the runline odds sitting at Tigers +1.5 runs (-190) and Royals -1.5 runs (+165).
The Royals are 31-69 straight up (SU) and 45-54 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 27.3 units for moneyline bettors and 18.6 units (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. On the other hand, the Tigers have gone 43-60 SU this year and are 53-49 ATS. In total, the teams lost 0.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.3 units ATS. Detroit is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Royals games have an over/under record of 41-54-4 in 2018. Detroit has also been a great under bet with a total record of 40-59-3.
Matthew Boyd will get the nod for the visiting Tigers. The left-handed Boyd is 4-9 with a 4.62 ERA and 93 strikeouts. He’s 0-2 with six strikeouts and a 3.46 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals are sending lefty Danny Duffy (6-8, 4.40 ERA) to the mound. Duffy has 107 strikeouts and 56 walks to his name, as well as a 1.44 WHIP. Duffy is 0-1 with two strikeouts and an 11.57 ERA in one start against Detroit this year.
Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.5 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 5.19, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.49 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 6.9 K/9. In 40 games against divisional foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 5.01 and the bullpens ERA is 5.13.
The Kansas City hitters are putting up 3.6 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .250/.333/.406 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have paced the Royals hitters this year. Merrifield is slashing .299/.369/.421 with five home runs, 31 RBIs, 45 runs and 18 stolen bases, and the line for Moustakas stands at .247/.309/.466 with 20 homers, 61 RBIs and 45 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.38 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.38, along with a WHIP of 1.30 and a K-per-9 of 7.94.
The Tigers offense has slashed .242/.302/.381 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the teams last five contests (2-3 SU).
Detroit’s hitters have been led by right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and shortstop Jose Iglesias. Castellanos is slashing .301/.355/.511 with 15 home runs, 56 RBIs and 56 runs scored, while Iglesias (.264/.304/.377) has produced three homers, 38 RBIs, 30 runs and 12 stolen bases.
The Tigers have gained 8.1 units and are 18-10 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 13 of those games, compared to 14 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have netted 0.8 units and are 19-13 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in 12 of those games, compared to 20 that went under.
Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of Detroit’s last seven games.
- The Royals have won four of their last five games SU.
- Kansas City has posted 22.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.8 over its last five.
- The Tigers have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 13 over their last 10.
