The Kansas City Royals will head north to face their divisional rival Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The matchup will begin at 1:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the game.
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
Kansas City (-180) is favored over Detroit (+160) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 9.5 runs (-120 for the under and +100 for the over). You can also bet on the game’s runline with the most recent odds sitting at Royals +1.5 runs (+115) and Tigers -1.5 runs (-125).
The Royals are 0-2 SU and have gone 1-1 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 2.3 units for moneyline gamblers over the early portions of the year, despite having gained 0.0 units ATS. The Tigers are 0-3 SU and 0-1 ATS. They’ve lost 1.0 units for moneyline bettors and 1.4 units ATS.
Tigers games have a one-0 over/under record in 2018. The Royals have an over/under record of one-1.
The Royals just dropped a 4-3 game to the White Sox, while the Tigers are coming off of an 8-6 loss against the Pirates.
The right-handed Jason Hammel will get the start for the visiting Royals. Hammel started 32 games last year and finished the season 8-13 overall with a 5.29 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He made five starts against Detroit in 2017 and put together a 1-0 record against the Tigers with a 4.13 ERA and 20 strikeouts.
The Tigers are rolling with lefty Francisco Liriano as their starter. Liriano started 18 games last year and finished the season 6-7 overall with a 5.66 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.
Detroit’s pitching staff has allowed 7.3 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 4.24, a WHIP of 1.12 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has an 8.36 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 6.4 K/9. In zero games against AL Central foes, Tigers starters have an ERA of and the bullpen’s ERA is .
Detroit’s hitters have produced 5.3 runs per outing, including per game against divisional foes and 5.3 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .237/.333/.398 over its last five games and is 0-3 SU during that stretch.
The Tigers’ batters have been led by first baseman Miguel Cabrera and outfielder Nicholas Castellanos. Cabrera is hitting .357/.438/.786 with five hits, four RBIs and three runs scored, while the line for Castellanos stands at .385/.500/.615 with five hits, two RBIs and four runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .249/.329/.397, Cabrera seemed to enjoy hitting at home last season, slashing .288/.340/.489 over 250 plate appearances.
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Tigers went 8-11 SU against the Royals last season.
The Tigers’ bullpen recorded 6.85 ERA against the Royals last year.
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