The Kansas City Royals (16-10) and Detroit Tigers (14-11) open a 3-game series Friday at Comerica Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Tigers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Tigers won 10-3 in 2023, including 5-1 at home vs. Royals
The surprising Royals took 3 of 4 games from the Toronto Blue Jays, cashing each of the past 3 outings as a mild underdog as the Under cashed. The total has gone low in 5 in a row for Kansas City, while cashing the Under at a 9-2 pace in the past 11 games dating back to April 14.
The Tigers were tripped up 7-5 against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 3-game series final Thursday, as Tampa salvaged a game after Detroit won the first 2 games by a combined 11-3 score, both as an underdog. The Over-Under has split in the past 4 games for the Tigers.
Royals at Tigers projected starters
RHP Seth Lugo vs. RHP Reese Olson
Lugo (3-1, 2.03 ERA) makes his 6th start of the season. He has a 1.19 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 4.1 K/9 in 31 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 5 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 9 H (2 HR), 1 BB, 1 K in 5-0 home loss vs. Kansas City Royals on Sunday
- 2024 road splits: Win, 7 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 2-0 win vs. Chicago White Sox on April 15 in his only road appearance to date
Olson (0-3, 3.80 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 1.45 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9 and 7.6 K/9 in 21 1/3 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 4-3 road loss vs. Minnesota Twins last Saturday
- 2024 home splits: Loss, 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 8 K in 1-0 loss vs. Texas Rangers on April 15 in his only home start to date
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Royals at Tigers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:51 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML) : Royals -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Tigers -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS) : Royals -1.5 (+155) | Tigers +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U) : 8 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Royals at Tigers picks and predictions
Prediction
Royals 4, Tigers 3
The ROYALS (-105) are a solid play as slight underdogs in this matinee series opener against the division rival Tigers (-115).
While Detroit dominated the series in 2023, this is a new season. Kansas City has fired out of the chute and played good baseball to date, and it is a solid play behind Lugo, who has allowed very little so far this season.
The Tigers +1.5 (-190) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return if you need a little bit of insurance, and you just cannot fathom the idea of taking the Tigers straight up.
If you like the Royals -1.5 (+155), they’re quite a tempting play. However, while they won the final 3 games of the series against the Blue Jays, each of the victories were by a single run.
AVOID .
UNDER 8 ( -110 ) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The total has gone low in 5 straight games for the Royals, while going 9-2 in the past 11 outings since April 14. The Under is 6-1-1 in the past 8 road games for Kansas City, too.
For the Tigers, the Over-Under has split in the past 4 games. However, at home, the Under is 4-2 in the past 6 games. The total has gone low at a 3-1-1 clip in the past 5 games inside the division, too.
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For more sports betting picks and tips , check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW .
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