Kansas City Royals (82-69) vs Detroit Tigers (78-73)
Game Info: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 7:40 pm (Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium)
Alec Marsh (8-8) (4.52) vs Tarik Skubal (16-4) (2.50)
Betting Odds: Kansas City Royals +130 / Detroit Tigers -154 --- Over/Under: 8.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Detroit, MLBN Stream the MLB Game of the Day all season on ESPN+. Sign up now!
The Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals square off Wednesday in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Detroit Tigers will start Tarik Skubal here and Skubal is 16-4 with a 2.50 ERA and 214 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Royals, Skubal is 1-3 with a 5.81 ERA and 31 strikeouts. Kansas City will start Alec Marsh here and Marsh is 8-8 with a 4.52 ERA and 116 strikeouts this season. This will be Marsh’s second career start against the Tigers.
Detroit Tigers Recap
The Detroit Tigers come into this one looking to complete the sweep of the Royals after picking up a 3-1 win over the Royals in Tuesday’s matchup. The series win here adds on to Detroit’s series wins over the Rockies and A’s over the last week and a half.
Tigers Trying To Sneak Into Playoffs
Riley Greene has 124 hits including 23 home runs and 70 RBIs along with 25 doubles, 6 triples, a .263 batting average, and a .353 OBP in addition to a team-high 143 strikeouts this season. Matt Vierling also has 129 hits as well as 5 triples and 27 doubles with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs while Wenceel Perez has 5 triples and 9 stolen bases. Colt Keith also has 13 home runs and 58 RBIs as well this year while Zach McKinstry has 16 stolen bases.
Why the Detroit Tigers will win
- The Tigers have won each of their last seven road games against AL Central opponents.
- The Royals have lost four of their last five night games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Tigers have covered the run line in each of their last 10 road games against AL Central opponents.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games against the Tigers following a loss.
Kansas City Royals Recap
The Kansas City Royals will be looking to salvage something from this series after taking one on the chin on Tuesday. The loss in the series meant that the Royals would be unable to build on their series win over the Pirates from this past weekend.
Royals Trying To Cling To Wild Card Spot
Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with 200 hits including 32 home runs, 108 RBIs, and team-highs of 11 triples and 43 doubles with 30 stolen bases and a .331 batting average. Salvador Perez also has 27 home runs with 102 RBIs and 27 doubles. Maikel Garcia has 7 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases along with 5 triples and 27 doubles this season. Vinnie Pasquantino has 30 doubles with 19 homers and 97 RBIs of his own on the year.
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The underdogs have won five of the Tigers' last six games.
- The Tigers have lost five of their last six Wednesday games as road favorites against AL Central opponents.
- The Tigers have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games as favorites after going to extra innings.
- The Royals have covered the run line in each of their last eight Wednesday night games as underdogs against the Tigers.
Tigers vs. Royals Prediction
I’m backing the Tigers here. I tried to give the Royals the benefit of the doubt on Tuesday, but Detroit just is on another level right now as they’re forging ahead toward the playoff spots to make things interesting over the final two weeks of the season. Kansas City has plenty of talent in their own right but I just feel like the Royals are running into a hotter team at the moment and nothing more. Give me Detroit with their ace on the mound in this one.
Chris’s Pick Detroit -154
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
Follow Chris Ruffolo on Twitter @ruffthepickdawg