The Kansas City Royals will do battle against the Detroit Tigers at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will showcase the matchup.
Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Detroit (+110) is entering this game as the underdog against Kansas City (-120) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs (-105 for the over and -115 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds sitting at -190 for the Tigers +1.5 runs and +165 for the Royals -1.5.
The Tigers have gone 43-60 SU this year and are 53-49 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle a whole lot this year, losing 0.6 units for moneyline gamblers and 4.3 units ATS. Detroit is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 31-69 SU and 45-54 ATS. The team has lost 27.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 18.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Royals games have a 41-54-4 over/under record in 2018. The Tigers have also been a great under bet with a total record of 40-59-3.
The left-handed Matthew Boyd is projected to start for the visiting Tigers. Boyd is 4-9 with a 4.62 ERA and 93 strikeouts. He’s 0-2 with six strikeouts and a 3.46 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals are going with lefty Danny Duffy (6-8, 4.40 ERA), who has 107 strikeouts and 56 walks to his name, as well as a 1.44 WHIP. Duffy is 0-1 with two strikeouts and an 11.57 ERA in one start against Detroit this year.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.5 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.19, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.49 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 6.9 K/9. In 40 games against divisional opponents, Royals starters have an ERA of 5.01 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.13.
The Kansas City offense has produced 3.6 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .250/.333/.406 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have led the Royals’ batters this year. Merrifield is slashing .299/.369/.421 with five home runs, 31 RBIs, 45 runs and 18 stolen bases, while Moustakas is batting .247 with 20 homers, 61 RBIs and 45 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.38 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.38, along with a WHIP of 1.30 and a K/9 of 7.94.
Tigers hitters have slashed .242/.302/.381 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Detroit’s offensive production has been sparked by outfielder Nicholas Castellanos and shortstop Jose Iglesias. Castellanos is hitting .301/.355/.511 with 15 home runs, 56 RBIs and 56 runs scored, while Iglesias is slashing .264/.304/.377 with three homers, 38 RBIs, 30 runs and 12 stolen bases.
The Tigers have gained 8.1 units and are 18-10 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 13 of those games, compared to 14 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have netted 0.8 units and are 19-13 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 12 of those games, as opposed to 20 that’ve gone under.
Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The over has cashed in three of Detroit’s last seven contests.
The Tigers have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 13 over their last 10.
Kansas City has recorded 22.0 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.8 over its last five.
The Royals have won four of their last five games SU.
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