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The Detroit Tigers (23-23) and Kansas City Royals (29-19) meet Monday at 7:40 p.m. ET (FS1) as they lift the lid on a 3-game AL Central set at Kauffman Stadium. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Tigers vs. Royals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tigers lead 2-1
Detroit is continuing a 6-game road trip that opened with the Tigers taking 2 of 3 at the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend. Before that series, Detroit had been just 1-6 over their previous 7 road games.
The Royals are fresh off a 3-game home sweep of the Oakland Athletics and are 8-3 since May 8. Kansas City has allowed just 3.46 runs per game (3rd MLB) in sporting one of the more surprising early-season records.
Tigers at Royals projected starters
RHP Reese Olson vs. RHP Michael Wacha
Olson (0-4, 2.09 ERA) is tabbed for his 9th start. He has a 0.99 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 7.8 K/9 in 47 1/3 IP.
- Last outing: No-decision, 8 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 6 K in 1-0 loss vs. Miami Marlins Tuesday
- Career vs. Royals: 0-1, 2.41 ERA (18 2/3 IP, 5 ER), 14 H, 6 BB, 23 K in 3 games
Wacha (3-4, 4.71 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.37 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 in 49 2/3 IP.
- Last outing: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 4-2 win at Seattle Mariners Tuesday
- Career vs. Tigers: 1-1, 3.43 ERA (21 IP, 8 ER), 19 H, 5 BB, 20 K in 4 starts
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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 7:31 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Tigers -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Royals -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Tigers -1.5 (+155) | Royals +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Tigers at Royals picks and predictions
Prediction
Tigers 6, Royals 4
Moneyline
The Tigers are 8-2 over their last 10 games against Kansas City.
Olson has registered a tidy 0.69 ERA with an 0.62 WHIP over his last 4 starts, and that stretch includes facing these Royals (1 run in 7 IP April 26) and the solid-offensively Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees. He’s too far out over his skis with the surface ERA, but he’s done well to limit hard contact, and he has held current KC bats to an aggregate .634 OPS (ESPN).
Wacha has scuffled in his last 2 turns at home. With veteran hurlers especially, career match-up surface numbers like his 3.43 ERA vs. Detroit often fall way short of telling any sort of relevant story. Per ESPN, current Tigers batters own an aggregate .897 OPS against him.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the value line here: BACK THE TIGERS (+100).
Run line/Against the spread
Worth a look if the return on Detroit was higher. Short of a sizable line move in that direction, PASS.
Over/Under
The Over has cashed in 5 straight Detroit road games.
There is some fade to the Olson numbers due to some generous rates around the margins. Both bullpens are in the same boat.
TAKE THE OVER 8.5 (-120).
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