Whit Merrifield and the Kansas City Royals will head north to square off against their division rival Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to televise the action and the game will get going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
The Royals have gone 41-74 SU this year and are 54-61 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 19.6 units for moneyline gamblers and 18.9 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread just once over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Tigers, on the other hand, are 33-78 SU and 44-66 ATS. The team’s lost 31.0 units for moneyline bettors and 30.0 units ATS. Detroit has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Tigers games have had an over/under record of 50-53-7 in 2019. The Royals have an over/under record of 56-51-8.
Jorge Lopez will get the start for Kansas City. The right-handed Lopez is 1-7 with a 6.19 ERA and 80 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with 15 strikeouts and a 3.79 ERA against Detroit this year (two starts).
The Tigers will turn to lefty Matthew Boyd (6-8, 3.91 ERA), who’s got 187 strikeouts and 30 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.13. Boyd is 1-2 with 26 strikeouts and a 5.00 ERA over three starts against Kansas City this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.19 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.42 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.79, along with a K/9 of 8.44.
Royals hitters have slashed .246/.312/.401 on their way to 4.3 runs scored per game this season, including 4.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s offensive production has been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Alex Gordon, who collectively have swatted 23 home runs. Merrifield is slashing .301/.356/.478 with 12 home runs, 55 RBIs, 77 runs and 16 steals, while Gordon (.271/.344/.422) has produced 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 61 runs scored.
For the home team, Detroit’s pitchers have given up 5.6 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starters have a 5.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.09 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 8.2 K/9. In 46 games against AL Central foes, Tigers starters have an ERA of 6.23 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.27.
The Detroit offense has produced 3.6 runs per contest, including 4.1 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .298/.359/.433 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Nicholas Castellanos and Miguel Cabrera have paced the Tigers’ hitters this year. Castellanos is slashing .273/.328/.462 with 11 home runs, 37 RBIs and 57 runs scored, while Cabrera’s line is .285/.344/.386 with seven homers, 43 RBIs and 29 runs.
The Royals have lost 4.3 units and are 14-17 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over’s hit in 13 of those games, compared to 14 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers.
Royals at Tigers MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has recorded 16 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Detroit has 14 XBH over its last five.
- The Kansas City defense has coughed up six errors over the last 10 games, compared to 12 errors for Detroit over its last 10.
- The Royals have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
- The Royals have a team OPS of .712 this season, including an OPS of .691 against left-handed pitchers. The Tigers’ OPS stands at .679 overall and .706 against southpaws.
