The Detroit Tigers will play host to their division rival Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast the action.
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
Detroit (-110) is hosting this one as the favorite against Kansas City (+100) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this night game at 8.5 runs. Odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at -110 for both the over and the under. You can also bet on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at -210 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +175 for the Tigers -1.5 runs.
The Tigers are 80-73 against the spread (ATS), but just 62-92 straight up (SU). They’ve lost 6.2 units for moneyline bettors and 4.0 units (ATS). Detroit has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 53-101 SU and have gone 76-77 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 28.8 units for moneyline bettors and 10.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in five of those seven.
Tigers games have an over/under record of 66-79-8 in 2018. The Royals have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 67-75-11.
The right-handed Jakob Junis will get the start for the visiting Royals. Junis (8-12, 4.42 ERA) has recorded 153 strikeouts in 164 innings so far. He’s 4-0 with 25 strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA against Detroit this year (four starts).
The Tigers are handing the ball to righty Jordan Zimmermann (7-8, 4.41 ERA), who’s got 102 strikeouts and 22 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.25. Zimmermann is 1-1 with nine strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA over two starts against Kansas City this year.
Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 4.8 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 4.56, a WHIP of 1.31 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 4.43 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 7.9 K/9. In 71 games against divisional foes, Tigers starters have an ERA of 4.63 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.53.
The Detroit hitters have put up 3.9 runs per outing, including 3.9 per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .232/.292/.378 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and third baseman Jeimer Candelario have led the Tigers’ batters this year. Castellanos is slashing .300/.357/.503 with 22 home runs, 85 RBIs and 82 runs scored, while Candelario is hitting .228 with 19 homers, 53 RBIs and 74 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.01 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.31 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.03, along with a K/9 of 7.28.
The Royals offense has slashed .245/.308/.391 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game this year, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s hitters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .302/.365/.434 with 12 home runs, 57 RBIs, 85 runs and 38 stolen bases. Gordon is hitting .246/.328/.365 with 11 homers, 50 RBIs and 53 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 22.4 units and are 52-55 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 50 of those games, compared to 49 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Tigers have lost 10.8 units and are 57-57 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 45 of those games, compared to 62 that’ve gone under.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Kansas City has tallied 19 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Detroit has 14 XBH over its last five.
The Royals have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
The Kansas City defense has allowed six errors over the last 10 games, compared to 14 errors for Detroit over its last 10.
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