The Kansas City Royals will be taking on their divisional rival Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The matchup will begin at 6:10 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City to catch the game.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Odds
Detroit (-110) is hosting this one as the favorite over Kansas City (+100) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs (-110 for the under and -110 for the over). Gamblers can also bet on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds sitting at Royals +1.5 runs (-210) and Tigers -1.5 runs (+175).
The Tigers are 80-73 against the spread (ATS)despite being only 62-92 straight up (SU). The team has lost 6.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.0 units (ATS). The Royals are 53-101 SU and have gone 76-77 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 28.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 10.6 units ATS.
Detroit games have an over/under record of 66-79-8 in 2018. Kansas City has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 67-75-11.
Jakob Junis is getting the start for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Junis (8-12, 4.42 ERA) has recorded 153 strikeouts in 164 innings so far. He’s 4-0 with 25 strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA against Detroit this year (four starts).
The Tigers are turning to righty Jordan Zimmermann (7-8, 4.41 ERA), who has 102 strikeouts and 22 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.25. Zimmermann is 1-1 with nine strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA across two starts against Kansas City this year.
Detroit’s pitching staff has given up 4.8 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have a 4.56 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.43 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 7.9 K/9. In 71 games against divisional opponents, Tigers starters have an ERA of 4.63 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.53.
Detroit’s hitters are putting up 3.9 runs per outing, including 3.9 per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over their last five. The team has hit .232/.292/.378 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Tigers’ batters have been led by right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and third baseman Jeimer Candelario. Castellanos is slashing .300/.357/.503 with 22 home runs, 85 RBIs and 82 runs scored, while Candelario’s line sits at .228/.317/.407 with 19 homers, 53 RBIs and 74 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.01 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.31 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.03, along with a WHIP of 1.43 and a K-per-9 of 7.28.
The Royals offense has slashed .245/.308/.391 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game this year, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon continue to lead Kansas City’s hitters. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .302/.365/.434 with 12 home runs, 57 RBIs, 85 runs and 38 stolen bases, while Gordon is hitting .246/.328/.365 with 11 homers, 50 RBIs and 53 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 22.4 units and are 52-55 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 50 of those games, compared to 49 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Tigers have lost 10.8 units and are 57-57 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 45 of those games, compared to 62 that’ve gone under.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
