The Kansas City Royals will square off against their division rival Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Fox Sports Kansas City will be televising the matchup and the game will get going at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Detroit (-155) as the favorite over Kansas City (+135). Bettors can gamble on the game’s total with odds posted at +105 for over 9 runs and -125 for under 9. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at Royals -1.5 runs (-110) and Tigers +1.5 runs (+100).
The Royals have gone 0-3 SU this year and are 1-1 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 2.3 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going, but have gained 0.0 units ATS. The Tigers are 1-3 SU and 0-3 ATS. They’ve lost 3.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.0 units ATS.
Tigers games have an over/under record of 2-1 in 2018. Royals games have gone over once, gone under once and pushed on zero occasions.
The Tigers have lost 3.1 units and are 0-3 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in two of those games, compared to one that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers.
Right-hander Jakob Junis will get the start for the visiting Royals. Junis started 16 games last year and finished the season 9-3 overall with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He made two starts against the Tigers in 2017 and put together a 2-1 record against them with a 6.75 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
The Tigers have tabbed lefty Matthew Boyd as their starter. Boyd started 25 games last year and finished the season 6-11 overall with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He recorded three starts against the Royals a year ago and compiled a 1-1 record with a 6.32 ERA and eight strikeouts.
As a unit, Detroit’s pitching staff has given up 5.8 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 3.42, a WHIP of 1.06 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.5. The bullpen has a 7.16 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 6.1 K/9. In one games against divisional opponents, Tigers starters have an ERA of 1.35 and the bullpen’s ERA is 0.00.
The Detroit offense is putting up 5.5 runs per contest so far this season and the team’s hit .250/.337/.401 to begin the year.
Outfielder Nicholas Castellanos and first baseman Miguel Cabrera have led the Tigers’ batters this year. Castellanos is slashing .412/.500/.706 with seven hits, three RBIs and six runs scored, and Cabrera’s line is .353/.450/.706 with six hits, five RBIs and four runs.
Cabrera performed well at home last season. Across 250 plate appearances, he slashed .288/.340/.489 (a drop from his overall season line of .249/.329/.397).
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 8.0 runs per game and its starters own a 6.60 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 7.80 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 10.64, along with a K/9 of 6.55.
Royals hitters have slashed .206/.287/.320 on their way to 3.7 runs scored per game in 2018.
Cuthbert Cuthbert and Mike Moustakas have led Kansas City’s offense. Cuthbert is slashing .500/.556/.500 with three hits and two RBIs, while Moustakas (.250/.308/.500) is up to three hits, one RBI and three runs scored.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Royals went 11-8 SU against the Tigers last season.
- The Tigers’ bullpen managed 6.85 ERA against the Royals last year.
