Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers Prediction 4/20/25 MLB Picks

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Kansas City Royals

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Detroit Tigers

Recent betting trends in games played between the Royals and Tigers

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

Kansas City Royals Betting Preview

This year the Royals kicked things off on a series loss in three installments versus the Cleveland Guardians. KC would then take another series loss versus the Milwaukee Brewers. The Royals would then win a series versus the Baltimore Orioles, taking two of three, then the team also won three of four against the Minnesota Twins. After another series loss in their rematch against the Guardians, the Royals were on the wrong end of a sweep by the Yankees. Thursday’s opener versus the Tigers didn’t go very well, resulting in a 6-1 loss. On Friday the Royals took another defeat, this time 7-3 after giving up three runs in the fifth inning alone. Starting pitcher Cole Ragans gave up five earned runs in 4.0 innings on six hits and three walks. 

In the Sunday game three Kansas City out-hit the Tigers 6-5 in a 3-1 defeat. Freddy Fermin had two hits with a solo home run as the team’s only RBI, and Seth Lugo went 6.2 frames in the start with three earned runs. 

In the starter slot for Sunday it’ll be KC’s Michael Wacha. This year Wacha is 0-3 with a 4.35 ERA in four starts over 20.2 innings. Wacha is 101-65 with a 3.90 ERA in 282 career games (261 starts). 

Detroit Tigers Betting Preview

Over on the Tigers’ side, they were on the wrong end of a sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers in their first set this year, then won two of three against the Seattle Mariners before a sweep of their own over the White Sox. The Tigers would go on to take wins in two of three games versus the New York Yankees then did the same against the Minnesota Twins before falling in two of three to the Brewers. After their Thursday win, on Friday the Tigers posted 12 team hits (and gave up 10 on the other side) in the four-run victory. Andy Ibanez managed a solo homer, while starter Jackson Jobe had 5.0 innings with one earned on five hits and two walks. 

In Saturday’s matchup Detroit scored all their runs in the fifth inning during the win. Casey Mize was great on 7.0 innings, four hits, one walk and one earned run in the starting role. 

Tarik Skubal will take the mound for the Tigers on Sunday. This year Skubal is 2-2 over four starts with a 2.66 ERA in 23.2 innings. Skubal is 43-33 with a 3.34 ERA in 110 career games (107 starts) in the MLB.

Why the Detroit Tigers will win

• The Royals have lost each of their last nine games as road underdogs.
• The Tigers have won each of their last six games against the Royals.
• The Tigers have covered the run line in each of their last eight games against the Royals.
• The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games against the Tigers following a road loss.
• The Royals have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games at Comerica Park against American League opponents that held a winning record.

Why the Kansas City Royals will win

• The Royals have won 10 of their last 11 Sunday games against the Tigers.
• The Tigers have failed to cover the run line in 17 of their last 22 games as home favorites against the Royals following a home win.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Royals' last five games as road underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Each of the Tigers' last four day games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in seven of the Royals' last eight games as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
• The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in five of the Tigers' last six home games.

Royals vs Tigers Prediction 

I’ll lean toward The Tigers. Skubal is cooking right now and should notch a pretty nice start. Though he took a loss versus Seattle on April 2 with three earned in 5.2 innings, Skubal has since caught fire. In his last pair he’s 2-0 with 13.0 clean innings, no walks and eight hits. As for Wacha, he’s been doing okay over his last two starts but is only 0-1 in that pair. Wacha has 11.0 total innings with five earned on seven hits and three walks during that time. 

The Tigers didn’t post the greatest offensive game on Saturday but they did enough to bag the win thanks to Spencer Torkelson’s homer. I’d like to see a better effort from the offense on Sunday in the finale, but Detroit should still be in pretty good shape.