The Kansas City Royals are set to face off against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Game 1 of their AL Central doubleheader. The game gets underway 1:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the matchup.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Odds
Vegas has listed Detroit (-130) as the favorite over Kansas City (+120). The total sits at nine runs and bettors can take either the over or the under for -110. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at -175 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +155 for the Tigers -1.5.
The Royals have gone just 3-13 SU this year and are 7-9 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 9.2 units for moneyline bettors in this young season and 4.8 units ATS. Kansas City’s covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven. The Tigers, on the other hand, are 7-9 SU and 7-8 ATS. They’ve lost 2.2 units for moneyline bettors and 1.4 units ATS. Detroit has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Tigers games have an over/under record of 6-9 so far in 2018. Royals games have gone under nine times, gone over six times and pushed on one occasion.
Jakob Junis is getting the nod for Kansas City. The right-handed Junis is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA and 16 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Detroit this year (two starts).
The Tigers are putting the ball in the hands of righty Michael Fulmer (1-2, 3.86 ERA), who has nine strikeouts and five walks, as well as a 1.41 WHIP. Fulmer hasn’t faced the Royals yet this year, but he made three starts against them in 2017, posting a 1-2 record with a 4.66 ERA and 15 strikeouts.
Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 4.6 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have a 3.95 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.45 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.8 K/9. In nine divisional games, Tigers starters have an ERA of 3.40 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.18.
Detroit’s hitters have put up 4.5 runs per contest, including 3.0 per game against divisional foes and 6.4 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .330/.367/.573 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Third baseman Jeimer Candelario and first baseman Miguel Cabrera have led the Tigers’ hitters so far. Candelario is slashing .284/.360/.537 with 19 hits, eight RBIs and five runs scored, and Cabrera is batting .283 with 17 hits, 10 RBIs and six runs.
Candelario seemed to enjoy hitting righties at home in 2017, slashing .365/.468/.538 in 62 such plate appearances (his total season line was .283/.359/.425).
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starters own a 3.65 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 8.12 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 7.94, along with a K/9 of 7.41.
The Royals offense has slashed .237/.307/.354 on its way to 3.2 runs scored per game this season, including 2.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (0-5 SU).
Kansas City’s offensive production been powered by third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Lucas Duda. Moustakas is slashing .348/.368/.636 with four home runs, 13 RBIs and 10 runs scored, while Duda is hitting .250/.316/.423 with three homers, 10 RBIs and six runs scored.
The Royals have lost 6.2 units and are 4-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Tigers have lost 1.2 units and are 7-7 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in five of those games, compared to nine that’ve gone under.
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Royals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
Detroit has recorded 20.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 30.8 over its last five.
The Royals have lost nine of their last 10 games SU.
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