The Detroit Tigers are playing host to the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Fox Sports Kansas City will be showing the matchup. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Odds
Detroit (-110) is hosting this one as the favorite over Kansas City (+100) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs. Odds for betting on the game’s total sit at -110 for both the over and the under. Gamblers can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at -210 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +175 for the Tigers -1.5.
The Royals are 53-102 SU and are 77-77 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 27.8 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 9.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Tigers, on the other hand, are 63-92 SU and 80-74 ATS. The team has lost 7.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.0 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Detroit games have an over/under record of 66-80-8 in 2018. Kansas City has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 67-76-11.
The right-handed Brad Keller will get the nod for the visiting Royals. Keller (8-6, 3.17 ERA) has racked up 94 punchouts in 133.1 innings so far. He’s 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA against Detroit this year.
The Tigers are planning to start lefty Daniel Norris (0-5, 5.71 ERA), who’s got 40 punchouts and 15 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.41. Norris is 0-0 with five strikeouts and a 1.93 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
Detroit’s pitchers have given up 4.8 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.54, a WHIP of 1.30 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 4.44 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 7.9 K/9. In 72 divisional games, Tigers starters have an ERA of 4.59 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.57.
The Detroit hitters have put up 3.9 runs per contest, including 3.9 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .268/.313/.446 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Tigers’ hitters have been led by Nicholas Castellanos and Victor Martinez. Castellanos is hitting .303/.360/.507 with 22 home runs, 85 RBIs and 83 runs scored, and Martinez is hitting .251 with nine homers, 54 RBIs and 32 runs.
For the visitors, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.31 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.05, along with a WHIP of 1.43.
The Royals offense has slashed .245/.308/.392 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s hitters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .304/.369/.441 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs, 86 runs and 38 steals. Gordon is hitting .246/.327/.371 with 12 homers, 51 RBIs and 54 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 5.4 units and are 25-22 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 17 of those games, compared to 27 that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Tigers have lost 11.9 units and are 57-58 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 45 of those games, compared to 63 that went under the total.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has logged 19 extra-base hits over its last five games. Detroit has 17 XBH over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
- Detroit has posted 20.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 22.8 over its last five.
