The Kansas City Royals are playing host to their division rival Detroit Tigers at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the matchup and the game will get going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals Odds
Detroit (+120) is coming into this one as the underdog against Kansas City (-130) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). Runline odds stand at -175 for betting the Tigers +1.5 runs and +155 for the Royals -1.5.
The Royals are 49-89 straight up (SU) and 65-73 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 23.8 units for moneyline bettors and 20.9 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in six of those seven. The Tigers have gone 40-95 SU this year and are 54-80 against the spread. Overall, the team’s lost 34.0 units for moneyline gamblers and 33.0 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Neither team has been a strong over/under play this season. Royals games have had an over/under record of 66-64-8 in 2019. Detroit has an over/under record of 62-63-9.
Daniel Norris will get the nod for the Tigers. The left-handed Norris is 3-11 with a 4.66 ERA and 111 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with 12 strikeouts and a 7.36 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals are turning to Mike Montgomery (3-7, 4.66 ERA). Montgomery has 54 punchouts and 24 walks, along with a 1.57 WHIP. Montgomery is 1-0 with 12 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in one start against Detroit this year.
Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.3 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 5.23, a WHIP of 1.43 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.3. The bullpen has a 5.03 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 8.5 K/9. In 63 divisional games, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.53 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.80.
The Kansas City hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.7 per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .268/.346/.440 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Alex Gordon have led the Royals’ batters this year. Merrifield is hitting .299/.349/.471 with 16 home runs, 69 RBIs, 91 runs and 17 steals, while Gordon is hitting .259 with 12 homers, 65 RBIs and 69 runs.
In the other dugout, Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.34 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.61 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.00, along with a WHIP of 1.41.
Tigers hitters have slashed .238/.295/.388 on their way to 3.6 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Miguel Cabrera and Nicholas Castellanos continue to lead Detroit’s offense. Cabrera is hitting .283/.344/.398 with 10 home runs, 52 RBIs and 36 runs scored, while Castellanos is hitting .273/.328/.462 with 11 homers, 37 RBIs and 57 runs scored.
The Tigers have lost 2.8 units and are 16-13 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 17 of those games, compared to 10 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 5.2 units and are 17-19 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 16 of those games, compared to 16 that’ve gone under.
Tigers at Royals MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in only two of Detroit’s last seven games.
- The Tigers have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
- The Tigers have a total OPS of .683 this season and an OPS of .720 when facing left-handed pitchers. The Royals’ OPS sits at .706 overall and .690 against southpaws.
- Detroit has posted 23.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 23.4 over its last five.
- The Tigers have dropped eight of their last nine games SU.
