Teams trending in opposite directions meet in the last of a four-game series on Monday when the Kansas City Royals face the host Detroit Tigers. The Royals (13-7), who have won five of seven road games this year, are 7-3 in their last 10 games and lead the American League Central Division by 1 ½ games over the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers (7-15), who have won just four of 12 home games, are 1-9 over their past 10 games. Detroit, fifth in the division, trails Kansas City by seven games.
First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. ET from Comerica Park in Detroit. The Royals are 11th in MLB with a .236 team batting average, while the Tigers are 28th at .207. Both sides are listed at -105 on the money line (risk $105 to win $100) in the latest Royals vs. Tigers odds from William Hill Sportsbook, while the over-under for total runs scored is eight. Before making any Tigers vs. Royals picks, check out the MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
This model, which simulates every pitch of every game 10,000 times, had a banner 2019 season, the league's last full schedule, returning more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line MLB picks. It is off to a profitable start in 2021, going 21-14 on top-rated MLB money-line picks through three weeks, returning almost $300. Anyone following it has seen huge rewards.
Now, the model has dialed in on Royals vs. Tigers. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the MLB lines and trends for Tigers vs. Royals:
- Royals vs. Tigers money line: Kansas City -105, Detroit -105
- Royals vs. Tigers run line: Royals -1.5 (+150)
- Royals vs. Tigers over-under: 8 runs
- KC: The Royals are 4-0 in their last four games against a right-handed starter
- DET: The Tigers have lost six of their last seven home games
Why you should back the Royals
Kansas City has won 10 of 14 due to a number of players who have stepped up at the plate. One of those is center fielder Michael A. Taylor, who has a six-game hitting streak, going 7-for-20 (.350) during that stretch. In Sunday's 4-0 win, Taylor was 2-for-4 with a run scored and one stolen base. For the season, he has a .394 slugging percentage. He is hitting .273 lifetime against the Tigers.
Also stinging the ball this month is second baseman Nicky Lopez. In 20 games this season, Lopez is hitting .278 with seven RBIs and nine runs scored. Last Tuesday against Tampa Bay, he was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. In 18 career games against Detroit, he has two doubles, one homer and three RBIs.
Why you should back the Tigers
Detroit will look to snap out of its recent struggles when it sends right-hander Spencer Turnbull (1-0, 1.80 ERA) to the hill. He made his season debut on Wednesday against the Pirates, completing five innings in just 62 pitches. He's winless in six career starts against Kansas City, despite a 3.27 ERA. Against Pittsburgh, Turnbull allowed just two hits, one earned run, while walking two and striking out six.
Offensively, the Tigers have struggled all year, but are led by third baseman Jeimer Candelario, who has four hits in the series, hitting .364 over the weekend. For the season, Candelario is hitting .268 with one homer, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored. In 42 career games against the Royals, he is hitting .232 with 10 doubles, one homer and 18 RBIs. He has a .316 slugging percentage.
How to make Tigers vs. Royals picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, as the teams combine for 9.3 runs in the simulations, and it also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Tigers vs. Royals? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the money line to jump on, all from the advanced model that returned more than $1,400 in 2019.
