Detroit Tigers vs
Kansas City RoyalsPredictions & Preview

Tigers vs. Royals Prediction: Detroit Tigers Hold Firm Lead in AL Central Despite Flaherty and Kolek's Struggles Ahead of Crucial Matchup

In this content, we provide a prediction for the Tigers vs. Royals game, the second of a three-game series between the two rivals in Missouri. Detroit is coming off a sweep by the Athletics, while Kansas City won two of three against the White Sox. This article was written before the conclusion of the opening game on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium. Stay informed with our expert analysis for MLB betting.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Tigers -120 | Royals +108
• Spread: Tigers -1.5 (+128) | Royals +1.5 (-151)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Detroit will win straight-up is 55%.

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers suffered their fourth consecutive loss as they were shut out by the Oakland Athletics in their recent match. Despite this defeat, the Tigers still maintain a strong lead in the AL Central division with a record of 78-57. In their game against the Athletics, Detroit struggled to generate offense, with Spencer Torkelson hitting a triple as the team's only extra-base hit. Casey Mize took the loss after giving up five runs in just over three innings of work. Looking ahead, Jack Flaherty will take the mound for the Tigers in their next game. Flaherty currently holds a 7-13 record with a 4.87 ERA for the season. In his last few starts, Flaherty has had mixed results, but he has a strong track record against the Kansas City Royals, with a 3-0 record and a 0.90 ERA in previous games at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals secured their third win in four games by defeating the Chicago White Sox in the rubber game of the series. The Royals currently hold a record of 69-65 and are in second place in the AL West, trailing the Tigers by 8.5 games for the top spot. They are also three games behind the Mariners for the final wild card spot. In the game against Chicago, Kansas City had a strong offensive performance, totaling 16 hits with multiple players contributing. Adam Frazier led the team with three hits, including a run and an RBI. Salvador Perez and Mike Yastrzemski also hit home runs in the contest. Pitcher Ryan Bergert earned the win after pitching six innings and allowing one run on six hits. Stephen Kolek will make his 15th start of the year, his first with the Royals, against the Padres. Kolek has a record of 4-5 with a 4.18 ERA this season and is coming off a win in his last start with the Padres. Despite recent struggles, Kolek will look to rebound in his first career appearance against the Tigers.

Detroit Tigers Hold Firm Lead in AL Central Despite Flaherty and Kolek's Struggles Ahead of Crucial Matchup Against Royals

Despite experiencing some challenges in the latter part of the season, Detroit maintains a solid lead in the AL Central. Flaherty has not lived up to expectations this season following a strong finish last year. Similarly, Kolek has struggled since joining the team at the trade deadline, evident in his lackluster performance with Triple-A Omaha. Despite recent improvements in their offensive game, the Tigers face a crucial juncture against the Royals, who have historically performed well at Kauffman Stadium. Taking into account Kolek's ongoing struggles in the minor leagues, Detroit holds a slight advantage in this matchup.

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