The Kansas City Royals are preparing to take the field against their AL Central nemesis Detroit Tigers in a Saturday day game. The opening pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the matchup.
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
The Tigers are 14-15 straight up (SU) and 15-13 against the spread (ATS). The team has gained 2.6 units for moneyline bettors while earning 0.8 units ATS. The Royals are 11-22 SU and have gone 16-16 ATS. Overall, the club has lost 6.7 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going and 3.5 units ATS.
Tigers games have an over/under record of 12-16 so far in 2019. The Royals have been a decent over bet with a total record of 19-12-1.
Right-hander Homer Bailey will get the nod for the visiting Royals. Bailey is 2-3 with a 5.70 ERA and 30 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Tigers this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-1, 2.25 ERA and six strikeouts over eight innings).
The Tigers are putting the ball in the right hand of Tyson Ross (1-3, 4.03 ERA, 1.38 WHIP), who has 22 strikeouts and 12 walks. Ross is 1-0 with eight strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
As a unit, Detroit’s pitchers have given up 4.3 runs per game overall in 2019. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.47, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.7. The bullpen has a 5.06 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 9.2 K/9. In 14 games against AL Central foes, Tigers starters have an ERA of 4.22 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.06.
The Detroit hitters are putting up 3.5 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .256/.337/.424 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Miguel Cabrera and Nicholas Castellanos have led the Tigers’ hitters so far. Cabrera is slashing .295/.365/.366 with 33 hits, 12 RBIs and 10 runs scored, while Castellanos has produced a line of .271/.331/.439 with 29 hits, eight RBIs and 18 runs.
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 5.01 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 7.49 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.20, along with a WHIP of 1.36.
Royals hitters have slashed .239/.315/.421 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game this season, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Adalberto Mondesi have led Kansas City’s offense. Merrifield is hitting .289/.340/.504 with four home runs, 13 RBIs, 25 runs and six stolen bases, while Mondesi (.277/.305/.500) has produced four homers, 27 RBIs, 18 runs and 10 steals.
The Royals have lost 5.7 units and are 11-12 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 14 of those games, compared to nine that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Tigers have netted 3.8 units and are 13-11 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in eight of those games, compared to 16 that’ve gone under.
Royals vs. Tigers Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in four of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- The Royals have an OPS of .736 this season and an OPS of .768 against right-handed pitchers. The Tigers’ OPS sits at .681 overall and .670 against righties.
- Kansas City has recorded 20.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 16.8 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including four over their last five.
