The Detroit Tigers will be facing off against their divisional rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The matchup can be viewed across the country on Fox Sports One and the opening pitch is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. ET.
Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Kansas City (-125) as the favorite over Detroit (+115). Gamblers are able to bet on the game’s total with odds posted at even money (+100) for over 9.5 runs and -120 for under 9.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at -180 for the Tigers +1.5 runs and +160 for the Royals -1.5.
The Tigers are 13-18 SU and have gone 16-14 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 2.1 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 0.1 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, are 10-22 SU and 13-18 ATS. They’ve lost 10.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.5 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Kansas City games have an over/under record of 12-17-2 thus far in 2018. The Tigers have an over/under record of 13-17.
Jordan Zimmermann will get the nod for the visiting Tigers. The right-handed Zimmermann is 1-0 with a 5.81 ERA and 27 strikeouts. He has yet to face Kansas City this year, but he made two starts against the Royals in 2017, putting together a 1-0 record against them with a 2.13 ERA and 10 strikeouts.
The Royals are planning to start righty Jason Hammel (0-3, 4.91 ERA), who has 19 strikeouts and 12 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.31 WHIP. Hammel is 0-1 with seven strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA over two starts against Detroit this year.
Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.84 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 6.97 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.88, along with a WHIP of 1.24 and a K-per-9 of 8.19.
Tigers hitters have slashed .254/.316/.404 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Detroit’s offense has been powered by third baseman Jeimer Candelario and first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Candelario is slashing .290/.362/.516 with four home runs, 14 RBIs and 19 runs scored, while Cabrera has a .323 average with three homers, 21 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Candelario did not perform especially well against right-handed pitching on the road last season. Across 55 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .173/.218/.269 (compared to his overall season line of .283/.359/.425).
For the home team, Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.6 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have a 4.71 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 6.07 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 6.3 K/9. In 18 divisional games, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.34 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.56.
Kansas City’s hitters are putting up 3.8 runs per contest, including 3.6 per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .293/.360/.453 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
Right fielder Jorge Soler and third baseman Mike Moustakas have led the Royals’ batters so far. Soler is slashing .309/.429/.526 with four home runs, 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored, and Moustakas has produced a line of .297/.331/.555 with eight homers, 20 RBIs and 20 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .144/.245/.258, Soler enjoyed hitting at home last year, slashing .213/.302/.404 over 53 plate appearances.
The Tigers have lost 0.6 units and are 14-11 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in nine of those games, compared to 16 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 12.2 units and are 7-11 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in six of those games, compared to 10 that went under the total.
Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
Kansas City has recorded 25.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 27.4 over its last five.
The Tigers have hit six home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 10 over their last 10.
+++++
