The Detroit Tigers (79-57) visit the Kansas City Royals (69-66) Saturday in the second game of their 3-game series. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is at 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Tigers vs. Royals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tigers lead 8-3.
The Tigers lead the AL Central over the second-place Royals by 9 1/2 games. They snapped a 4-game skid winning the series opener Friday night 5-3. SP Chris Paddack allowed 3 runs in the bottom of the first, but the Tigers got 2 in the top of the second and 2 more in the top of the fourth to take the lead. OF Riley Greene had 3 hits and 2 RBIs and OF Kerry Carpenter drove in a pair of runs as well.
The Royals are 3 games in the Wild Card race. Friday’s loss ended a 2-game winning streak. OF Mike Yastrzemski led off the bottom of the first with his seventh home run of the year, and 3B Maikel Garcia hit a 2-run shot 3 batters later. But that was all the runs they scored. SP Seth Lugo took the loss after allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and 4 walks, striking out 5 in 3 1/3 innings.
Tigers at Royals projected starters
RHP Jack Flaherty vs. RHP Stephen Kolek
Flaherty (7-13, 4.87 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 1.30 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 10.9 K/9 through 136 2/3 innings.
Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 8 ER, 10 H, 0 BB, 3 K in a 10-8 home loss to the Royals SundayIs 1-3 with 7.71 ERA (21 IP, 18 ER) in last 4 startsCareer vs. Royals: 4-1, 3.00 ERA (30 IP, 10 ER), 0.77 WHIP, 8.1 K/9 in 5 starts2025 road splits: 2-6, 6.08 ERA (53 1/3 IP, 36 ER), 1.48 WHIP, 10.5 K/9 in 11 starts
Kolek (4-5, 4.18 ERA) makes his 15th start but is making his Royals debut. He has a 1.31 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 6.3 K/9 through 79 2/3 innings with the San Diego Padres.
Was acquired in trade with the Padres at deadline but has been in Triple-A Omaha since tradeLast start (for Padres): Win, 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K in 9-2 road win over the St. Louis Cardinals July 27Facing Tigers for the first time in his career
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Tigers at Royals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:05 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Tigers -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Royals +100 (bet $100 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Tigers -1.5 (+140) | Royals +1.5 (-170)Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -110 | U: -110)Tigers at Royals picks and predictionsPrediction
Royals 6, Tigers 5
Flaherty has nearly a quarter of the Tigers’ losses this season, and he has been knocked around a bit recently, allowing 5 or more runs in 3 of his last 4 outings. The Tigers are 8-18 in his starts and 1-4 in his last 5 starts. They have lost his last 5 road starts.
Kolek is a wild card, making his Royals debut. The Royals have won 6 of their last 8 home games.
BET ROYALS (+100).
The even odds on the moneyline make that the easy bet, rather than the -170 odds to cover, and the Royals’ last 23 covers have been outright wins.
So if you like them to cover, you might as well bet them to win straight up.
PASS.
The Royals’ last 4 wins have had at least 9 total runs.
Flaherty’s last 6 starts have had totals of 9 or more runs.
BET OVER 9 (-110).
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