Royals Continue Playoff Push Against Shorthanded Tigers
Royals vs Tigers Series Odds Favor Visitors in a Four-Game Set
Lefties Ragan and Skubal Set to Square Off In Friday’s Game Between KC and Detroit
The Kansas City Royals are the best home team in the American League but are one of two teams currently in MLB playoff position with a losing record on the road. Will a trip to Detroit change that? The Royals vs Tigers series odds favor the visiting Royals in the series opener before Detroit ace Tarik Skubal pitches on Friday.
Kansas City has won four of six against the Tigers this season. However, the two wins for Detroit have come at home. Dating back to last season, just one of the last nine games between Kansas City and Detroit finished under the total.
It is not often that you will see the visiting team priced at -160 by the MLB predictions to win outright against a division rival but that is the case with Kansas City for the series opener.
- Detroit has +135 odds to take the series opener.
When looking at the 2024 MLB schedule, the Royals and Tigers have three games remaining after this four-game series is over.
The Royals are priced at +3000 in the odds of winning the World Series. The Tigers are well back at +37500 in the MLB championship odds.
Royals vs Tigers 
Records: Kansas City Royals (60-49), Detroit Tigers (52-57)
Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date & Time: Streaming: Thursday – Bally Sports Kansas City, Bally Sports Detroit
Royals vs Tigers Probable Starting Pitchers
- Thursday: Seth Lugo (Royals); Keider Montero (Tigers)
- Friday: Cole Ragans (Royals); Tarik Skubal (Tigers)
- Saturday: Michael Lorenzen (Royals); TBA (Tigers)
- Sunday: Michael Wacha (Royals); TBA (Tigers)
Opponents at Witt’s End Dealing the Royals Shortstop
Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been the hottest hitter in baseball since the MLB All-Star break as he leads all qualified hitters with a .565 batting average and on-base percentage of .615 during that span.
He had three hits in each of the first four MLB games following the break with five extra-base hits. He is taking a 13-game hitting streak into the series opener.
During that stretch, Witt is 27-for-47 with 14 runs, five doubles, a triple, three home runs, and 13 RBIs as he now has the best batting average among qualified hitters in the majors.
The last time he faced the Tigers, Witt was 6-for-12 with a double, two home runs, and eight RBIs in three games. Keep that in mind when looking at the Royals vs Tigers series odds.
Four of Kansas City’s last five games went over the total.
Tigers Running Short On Arms
Fans should give Friday’s scheduled starting pitcher Tarik Skubal quite the reception as one of the American League Cy Young Award front-runners was not shipped to a contender during the MLB trade period.
With the Tigers trading away Jack Flaherty, former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize recently transferred to the 60-day MLB injured list, and Reese Olson also currently sidelined, the Tigers haven’t announced the starting pitchers for the final two games of the series.
Flaherty, Mize, and Olson have combined to make 53 starts this season. The Tigers also traded reliever Andrew Chafin to the Texas Rangers while former first-round pick Matt Manning hasn’t pitched for the Tigers since May 19. That could factor into the Royals vs Tigers series odds.
Twelve of the last 18 games for the Tigers landed over the total.
Who’s Hot
- Bligh Madris, Detroit Tigers OF: Madris is hitting .450 with a .500 on-base percentage over his last six games.
- Hunter Renfroe, Kansas City Royals P: Renfroe is 8-for-22 with a double, two home runs, and seven RBIs over his last six games.
- Will Vest, Detroit Tigers P: Vest has given up seven hits and one run with six strikeouts in his last 8.1 innings.
- Michael Wacha, Kansas City Royals P: Wacha is 4-0 with a 2.73 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 29.2 innings in his last five starts.
Who’s Not
- Jason Foley, Detroit Tigers P: Foley has allowed 14 hits and eight runs with five walks over eight innings in his last 11 appearances.
- Michael Massey, Kansas City Royals 2B: Massey is 2-for-25 with five strikeouts in his last eight games.
- James McArthur, Kansas City Royals P: McArthur has surrendered nine hits and nine runs in four innings over his last four appearances.
- Gio Urshela, Detroit Tigers 2B: Urshela is 1-for-20 with six strikeouts in his last eight games.
Royals vs Tigers Injury Update
Pitchers Dan Altavilla, John Schreiber (who began his MLB career with the Tigers), and Josh Taylor are out for the Royals.
Outfielders Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, and Parker Meadows join Olson on the injured list for the Tigers. Shortstop Javier Baez is on the bereavement list.
Royals vs Tigers Betting Preview
The Royals have lost six of their last seven road games against the Tigers. With the Royals taking a three-game winning streak into the series and Detroit on a three-game losing streak, that might change.
Kansas City is 12-8 as a road favorite this season with Detroit 10-11 as the underdog at home. The Royals have covered in just nine of its games as the favorite on the road while the Tigers are 12-9 against the run line as the home ‘dog.
When looking at the 2024 MLB rankings, Kansas City has the fifth-best record in the American League as the Royals have already topped their win total from the 2023 season. Detroit is tied with reigning World Series champion Texas for the 10th-best record in the AL.
Seven of Kansas City’s last nine games against American League teams went under the total. The total is at 8.5 (under -115) for the series opener.
- There is about a 50% chance of rain for Thursday’s series opener.
- Take a look at the +105 odds for the Royals to have the highest-scoring inning in the series opener.
Detroit has lost two of its last six home games and things might not get much better for AL West rival Kansas City coming to town.
For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
