The Kansas City Royals will head north to Comerica Park to square off against their AL Central nemesis Detroit Tigers. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the action.
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
Vegas is listing Kansas City (+135) as the underdog to Detroit (-145). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds listed at -105 for over 8.5 runs and -115 for under 8.5. You can also bet on the game’s spread with the current runline odds sitting at Royals +1.5 runs (-160) and Tigers -1.5 runs (+140).
The Tigers are 79-72 against the spread (ATS)despite being only 61-91 straight up (SU). They’ve lost 6.2 units for moneyline bettors and 3.9 units (ATS). Detroit has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total went over in four of those seven. The Royals have gone 52-100 SU this year and are 75-76 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 26.8 units for moneyline bettors and 10.0 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Tigers games have had an over/under record of 64-79-8 in 2018. The Royals have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 66-74-11.
Right-hander Jorge Lopez is getting the nod for the visiting Royals. Lopez is 2-4 with a 3.93 ERA and 38 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Tigers this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Tigers are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Matthew Boyd (9-12, 4.08 ERA), who has 155 punchouts and 49 walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.09. Boyd is 1-3 with 17 strikeouts and a 4.32 ERA over four starts against Kansas City this year.
Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.96 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 7.31 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.08, along with a WHIP of 1.42.
Royals hitters have slashed .245/.308/.389 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon have paced Kansas City’s offense. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .301/.365/.433 with 12 home runs, 57 RBIs, 82 runs and 36 stolen bases, while Gordon (.242/.325/.362) is up to 11 homers, 49 RBIs and 53 runs scored.
For the home team, Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 4.8 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.57, a WHIP of 1.30 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 4.46 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 7.9 K/9. In 69 games against AL Central opponents, Tigers starters have an ERA of 4.65 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.62.
The Detroit offense has put up 3.9 runs per outing, including 3.8 per game against divisional foes and 2.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .184/.241/.247 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Outfielder Nicholas Castellanos and third baseman Jeimer Candelario have led the Tigers’ hitters this year. Castellanos is slashing .297/.354/.491 with 21 home runs, 82 RBIs and 80 runs scored, while Candelario’s line is .228/.316/.407 with 19 homers, 53 RBIs and 74 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 5.4 units and are 24-21 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 16 of those games, compared to 26 that’ve hit the under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Tigers have lost 11.8 units and are 56-57 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 44 of those games, as opposed to 62 that’ve cashed the under.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Tigers, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has cashed in five of Kansas City’s last seven games.
The Tigers have lost four of their last five games SU.
The Kansas City defense has allowed four errors over the last 10 games, compared to 11 errors for Detroit over its last 10.
The Royals have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Tigers have hit six over their last 10.
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