The Kansas City Royals will play host to their AL Central rival Detroit Tigers at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to broadcast the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Detroit (+100) is the underdog to Kansas City (-110) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this one at 9.5 runs (-120 for the under and +100 for the over). You can also wager on the games spread with the current runline odds sitting at -210 for the Tigers +1.5 runs and +175 for the Royals -1.5 runs.
The Tigers are 13-16 SU and have gone 15-13 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 2.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline in the seasons early going, despite having gained 0.6 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 8-22 SU and 11-18 ATS. The teams lost 10.9 units for moneyline bettors and 11.0 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven.
Royals games have an 11-16-2 over/under record so far in 2018. Detroit has an over/under record of 12-16.
Mike Fiers will get the start for Detroit. The right-handed Fiers is 2-2 with a 3.91 ERA and 15 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals will put the ball in the left hand of Eric Skoglund (1-2, 6.23 ERA), who has 19 strikeouts and six walks as well as a 1.20 WHIP. Skoglund is 0-0 with three strikeouts and a 7.20 ERA in one start against Detroit this year.
Kansas City’s pitchers have yielded 5.7 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The teams starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.74, a WHIP of 1.31 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.1. The bullpen has a 6.24 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 6.2 K/9. In 16 divisional games, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.36 and the bullpens ERA is 5.85.
The Kansas City hitters have produced 3.5 runs per outing, including 3.1 per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over their last five. The teams hit .295/.380/.448 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Royals batters have been led by right fielder Jorge Soler and third baseman Mike Moustakas. Soler is slashing .315/.436/.517 with 28 hits, nine RBIs and nine runs scored, and Moustakas is hitting .298 with eight homers, 19 RBIs and 18 runs.
Soler especially enjoyed hitting at home in 2017. Across 53 plate appearances, he slashed .213/.302/.404 (his total season line was .144/.245/.258).
For the visiting squad, Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starters own a 3.76 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 7.12 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.45, along with a WHIP of 1.25.
Tigers hitters have slashed .249/.313/.403 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over the teams last five outings (3-2 SU).
First baseman Miguel Cabrera and third baseman Jeimer Candelario have led Detroit’s hitters. Cabrera is slashing .326/.413/.528 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Candelario is hitting .287/.364/.513 with four homers, 12 RBIs and 18 runs scored.
Putting up a slash line of .316/.451/.456 across 71 plate appearances, Cabrera seemed to enjoy hitting lefty pitching on the road last season (compared to his total season line of .249/.329/.397).
The Tigers have lost 1.7 units and are 1-2 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to zero that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 13.2 units and are 6-11 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in five of those games, compared to 10 which went under the total.
Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Each team has hit nine home runs over its last 10 games.
- Detroit has averaged 21.4 runs + hits + errors over its last 10 contests and 20.6 over its last five.
