Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers Prediction 4/17/25 MLB Picks

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Detroit Tigers

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Kansas City Royals

Recent betting trends in games played between the Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers game

Detroit Tigers Preview

The Detroit Tigers have a 10-8 record this season and are sitting on the first place of the AL Central. The Tigers have a 5-1 home record and are 8-9 in over/under. They are coming off a 1-5 road defeat by the Milwaukee Brewers, and are now 1-3 in their last 4 games. Under is 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. The Tigers have a .238 batting average this season, .317 OBP and .394 slugging percentage. Detroit’s pitching staff has a 3.51 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.  Spencer Torkelson leads the Tigers with 18 hits, adding 13 RBI and 6 home runs, while also leading the team with a .273 batting average.

Reese Olson (R) will take the mound for the Tigers, and he has a 1-1 record, 6.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. He has allowed 4+ earned runs in two of his three starts this season, but he was sharp against the Rangers last season, allowed just one earned run in two of his three starts.  

Kansas City Royals Preview

The Kansas City Royals have an 8-11 record this season and are sitting on the third place of the AL Central. The Royals have a 2-7 road record and are 7-12 in over/under. They are coming off a 3-4 road defeat by the New York Yankees, and are now 1-5 in their last 6 games and 8-2 to the under in their last 10. The Royals have a .206 batting average this season, .274 OBP and .308 Slugging percentage. Kansas’ pitching staff has a 3.33 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. Bobby Witt Jr leads the Royals with 22 hits and he is the team’s best hitter with a .310 batting average. Vinnie Pasquantino leads the team with 11 RBI.

Michael Lorenzen (R) will take the mound for the Royals, and he has a 1-2 record, 3.71 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. He has allowed 3+ earned runs in two of his three starts this season, but he was sharp against the Tigers last season, with just one earned run in 10.2 innings of work in two starts.   

Why the Detroit Tigers will win

• The favorites have won each of the Royals' last 11 games.
• The Royals have lost 13 of their last 14 night games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Tigers have covered the run line in each of their last 10 night games against AL Central opponents.
• The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games against the Tigers following a loss.
• The Tigers have led after 3 innings in four of their last five games as favorites.
• The Royals have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six games as underdogs against AL Central opponents

Why the Kansas City Royals will win

• The Tigers have lost 11 of their last 12 night games at Comerica Park following a road loss.
• The underdogs have won four of the last six games between the Royals and Tigers.
• The Tigers have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven night games at Comerica Park following a road loss.
• The Royals have covered the run line in 10 of their last 11 night games at Comerica Park following a road loss.
• The Royals have led after 3 innings in four of their last five games at Comerica Park against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Royals have led after 5 innings in six of their last seven road games against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.

Total Runs Facts

• Thirteen of the Royals' last 15 night games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Four of the Tigers' last five games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in seven of the Royals' last eight road games against American League opponents.
• The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Tigers' last five home games against AL Central opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Tigers rank T1st in the league for triples this season (5).
• The Tigers rank T29th in the league for steals this season (5).
• The Royals rank 30th in the league for home runs this season (10).
• The Royals rank 28th in the league for batting average this season (.206).

Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers Prediction

The Tigers are 4-1 in their last 5 meetings against the Royals, but the Royals are 3-1 in their last 4 visits in Detroit. Under is 3-1 in their last 4 meetings.

In this Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers Prediction, the Tigers are coming as -150 home favorites. The Tigers are rightfully favored, as they are looking better so far this season, as indicated by their record. Detroit is also almost perfect at home, but Olson is looking terrible to start the season, and I cannot really trust the Royals on the road, so I see no value on either side. While both pitchers are struggling this season, both offenses also struggle, and both teams are 15-4-1 to the under in their last 20 games combined. Both pitchers looked sharp in their starts against the opposing team last season, so I will look towards the under 8 runs in this one.