The red hot Detroit Tigers are in Kansas City, Missouri today to open a three game set with the Royals. Tonight’s series opener between the AL Central rivals is scheduled to get underway at 8:10pm ET. The latest MLB Free Picks & Odds from offshore bookmaker 5Dimes have the visiting Tigers listed as a -140 moneyline favorite and the Over/Under set at 8.5 runs. Kansas City is drawing +130 odds to win its 16th home game of the season.
Kansas City got off to a hot start this season, winning 17 of its first 27 games, but a horrendous May (9-20) had the Royals looking at some all too familiar last place scenery. However, June has, at least to this point, looked more like April for KC, and that is a good thing.
The Royals are 6-2 since the calendar change and they ride a five game winning streak into tonight’s opener with the division leading Tigers. The resurgence has KC’s record sitting at 28-32 and the team, now in third place, is 6.5 games behind Detroit.
The Royals will look to keep their streak intact tonight with veteran right hander Jeremy Guthrie on the hill. Guthrie took some serious lumps in mid to late May, allowing five or more earned runs in three consecutive starts, but he has regained his early season form of late.
The Stanford product has yielded just three earned runs in his last two outings, both KC wins, bringing his season ERA to 3.66.
Guthrie is 5-3 with a 3.89 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 14 career appearances (11 starts) against the Tigers.
The 35-26 Tigers, who ride a four game winning streak into tonight’s game, will counter Guthrie with 29 year old right hander Doug Fister. Fister owns a 5-3 record, 3.27 ERA, and 1.18 WHIP, but Detroit is 1-5 in his last six starts. The Tigers offense has been especially lackluster in Fister’s last three outings, plating a total of two runs.
The Royals are 1-1 against the Tigers this season, but Detroit has won seven of the last nine meetings between the two teams.
Notable Trends: The Royals are 7-1 in their last eight games as a home underdog with a moneyline spread between 120 and 140 and total between 8.5 and 9 runs.
Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals MLB Odds:
Detroit Tigers -1.5 (+120), Over 8.5 (-110), -140 (Moneyline)
Kansas City Royals +1.5 (-140), Under 8.5 (-110), +130 (Moneyline)
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