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The Detroit Tigers visit the Kansas City Royals in an AL Central matchup on Wednesday. Check out our MLB odds series as we hand out a Tigers-Royals prediction and pick. We will also let you know how to watch the game.
Tarik Skubal will get the start for the Tigers. Cole Ragans will take the ball for the Royals.
Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Tigers-Royals Odds
Detroit Tigers: -1.5 (+136)
Moneyline: -118
Kansas City Royals: +1.5 (-164)
Moneyline: +100
Over: 7.5 (-122)
Under: 7.5 (+100)
How to Watch Tigers vs. Royals
Time: 2:20 PM ET/11:20 AM PT
TV: Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Kansas City
Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)
Why The Tigers Will Cover The Spread/Win
The Tigers have Skubal on the bump, and he is easily the front-runner for American League Cy Young this season. Heading into this game, Skubal is 6-0 with a 1.80 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts. He is having an unbelievable season right now, and the Tigers need that to continue. In his nine starts this season, Skubal has allowed more than two earned runs just one time, and he has gone at least six innings in eight of those starts. Skubal should be able to keep that going in this game in Kansas City.
Skubal has already started against the Royals this season. He went seven innings, allowed just four hits, and struck out six while allowing one run in the win for the Tigers. On the season, Skubal is allowing opponents to hit just .179 off him while getting them to chase, whiff, and strike out at a high rate. Skubal is showing no signs of slowing down, either. If he can continue his hot start, the Tigers are going to win this game.
Why The Royals Will Cover The Spread/Win
If there is one pitcher on the Royals that can match Skubal, it is Cole Ragans. Ragans does have a 3.70 ERA, but that is because he has two separate starts in which he allowed seven earned runs. I would not expect that to happen in this one. Take away those two starts and Ragans is 3-1 with 48 innings pitched, a 1.69 ERA, 32 hits allowed, 57 strikeouts, and just two home runs allowed. Expect Ragans to have one of those starts in this game. If he does, the Royals will win this game at home.
Ragans is very good at getting opponents to chase and whiff at pitches. The Tigers do a pretty good job not chasing, but when they do chase, the Tigers have one of the lowest chase contact percentages. Along with that, the Tigers are middle of the pack when it comes to whiffing. Ragans has a chance to rack up some strikeouts and shut down the Tigers. If he has one of his good games, the Royals are going to win this game.
Final Tigers-Royals Prediction & Pick
This is going to be a very fun game to watch if you like pitching matchups. Skubal and Ragans are two of the better arms in the American League, and possibly the MLB. If the Under hit in this game, I would not be surprised. As for a winner, I am going to take the Tigers' moneyline. Skubal is just way too hard to bet against, especially with the season he is having right now.
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Final Tigers-Royals Prediction & Pick: Tigers ML (-118)
