The Kansas City Royals are seeking their fourth straight victory as they play host to the Detroit Tigers at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The matchup will get underway at 8:15 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City to catch the game.
Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals Odds
Vegas has placed equal moneyline odds (-105) on each team. The total sits at 9.5 runs and bettors can take either the over or the under for -110. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds coming in at Tigers -1.5 runs (+140) and Royals +1.5 runs (-160).
The Tigers are 42-59 SU and are 53-47 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle very much this year, losing 0.6 units for moneyline bettors and 2.3 units ATS. Detroit is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 30-68 SU and 43-54 ATS. The team’s lost 27.6 units for moneyline bettors and 20.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Royals games have an over/under record of 41-52-4 thus far in 2018. Detroit has also been a great under bet with a total record of 39-58-3.
Francisco Liriano will get the nod for the visiting Tigers. The left-handed Liriano is 3-5 with a 4.67 ERA and 63 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with 14 strikeouts and a 2.37 ERA against Kansas City this year (three starts).
The Royals are sending Heath Fillmyer (0-1, 3.45 ERA) to the mound. Fillmyer has seven strikeouts and eight walks to his credit, as well as a 1.47 WHIP. Fillmyer hasn’t faced the Tigers yet this year and did not record any MLB pitching stats last season.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have yielded 5.5 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.27, a WHIP of 1.46 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.3. The bullpen has a 5.44 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 6.9 K/9. In 38 games against AL Central foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 5.20 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.99.
The Kansas City offense has produced 3.6 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .209/.292/.373 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have led the Royals’ batters this year. Merrifield is slashing .302/.371/.424 with five home runs, 31 RBIs, 43 runs and 17 steals, and Moustakas is batting .245 with 19 homers, 58 RBIs and 44 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 4.38 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 7.35 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.42, along with a K/9 of 7.95.
The Tigers offense has slashed .243/.303/.382 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game this season, including 3.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Detroit’s hitters have been paced by right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and shortstop Jose Iglesias. Castellanos is hitting .304/.357/.513 with 15 home runs, 56 RBIs and 54 runs scored. Iglesias (.270/.310/.385) is up to three homers, 38 RBIs, 30 runs and 12 steals.
The Royals have gained 1.8 units and are 18-13 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s hit in 12 of those games, compared to 19 that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers.
Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Detroit has tallied nine extra-base hits over its last five outings. Kansas City has 12 XBH over its last five.
The Tigers have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
Kansas City has posted 21 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 17 over its last five.
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