The Kansas City Royals are set to take on their AL Central foe Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The opening pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast the matchup.
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
Kansas City (+100) is coming into this one as the underdog to Detroit (-110) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs (-105 for the over and -115 for the under). You can also bet on the games spread with the runline odds sitting at Royals +1.5 runs (-210) and Tigers +-1.5 runs (+175).
The Tigers are 8-10 SU and 8-8 ATS. The teams lost 1.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.3 units against the spread (ATS). Detroit has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total went over in four of those seven. The Royals are 4-14 SU and have gone 7-9 ATS. Overall, the teams lost 9.2 units for moneyline gamblers in the seasons early going and 4.8 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven.
Tigers games have had an over/under record of 7-9 so far in 2018. Kansas City has an over/under record of 6-9-1.
The left-handed Danny Duffy is the projected starter for Kansas City. Duffy is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He has yet to face Detroit this year, but he did make three starts against the Tigers in 2017, putting together a 2-1 record against them with a 5.17 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
The Tigers are putting the ball in the right hand of Mike Fiers (1-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.11 WHIP), who’s got 10 punchouts and two walks. Fiers made two starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 1-1 record in 2017, posting a 1-1 record with a 2.45 ERA and seven strikeouts.
As a unit, Detroit’s pitchers have given up 4.3 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have a 3.75 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.10 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 9.0 K/9. In 11 games against AL Central foes, Tigers starters have an ERA of 3.18 and the bullpens ERA is 2.01.
The Detroit hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 2.9 per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .298/.341/.544 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Tigers batters have been led by third baseman Jeimer Candelario and first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Candelario is slashing .267/.337/.493 with 20 hits, eight RBIs and five runs scored, and Cabrera’s line is .286/.370/.460 with 18 hits, 10 RBIs and six runs scored.
Candelario enjoyed hitting at home last year, slashing .386/.478/.579 over 67 plate appearances (his overall season line was .283/.359/.425).
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 3.41 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 7.50 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 7.91, along with a WHIP of 1.17.
The Royals offense has slashed .237/.307/.352 on its way to 3.1 runs scored per game this year, including 2.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over the teams last five contests (1-4 SU).
Third baseman Mike Moustakas and outfielder Jorge Soler have led Kansas City’s hitters. Moustakas is hitting .333/.359/.627 with five home runs, 14 RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Soler (.277/.375/.404) has produced one homers, two RBIs and four runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .144/.245/.258, Soler didn’t do as well hitting against righties on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of just .103/.235/.138 over 34 such plate appearances.
The Royals have lost 6.2 units and are 4-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to five that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Tigers have lost 1.0 units and are 0-1 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s cashed in one of those games, compared to zero that went under.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has recorded 20.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.2 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
