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The Detroit Tigers take on the Kansas City Royals. Our MLB odds series has our Tigers Royals prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Tigers Royals.
The Detroit Tigers are trailing the pack in the American League Central Division. The Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins are all ahead of the Tigers, which puts Detroit in a non-playoff position one week before Memorial Day. The American League East is almost certain to produce at least one wild card team (the Yankees or the Orioles), so if the Tigers are going to make the playoffs, they will at least need to finish third in the A.L. Central to have any chance. If the second-place team in the American League West becomes much better by the end of the year, the Tigers' pursuit of a playoff spot becomes even harder. As things stand right now, though, Detroit has to move upward in the A.L. Central standings. That is the team's first priority.
What is holding back the Tigers? It's pretty clear. Their hitting has simply not made the grade in 2024. Back-to-back shutout losses at home to the Marlins last week underscored the Tigers' problems at the plate. They had a good weekend in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but for the most part, the Tigers' hitters have not been reliable. They have wasted a lot of really good pitching through nearly two full months of play. Detroit has the starting pitching to be a playoff team, but the bats have dragged this team down and have caused the Tigers to fall short of their potential. This team is hovering near the .500 mark. It needs to be several games above .500 at the end of June so that when the All-Star break and then the trade deadline arrive, Detroit can go out and get a bat or two and make a real push for the postseason. If, on the other hand, the Tigers fall below .500 at the end of June, they won't be a buyer at the deadline. It's really important for Detroit to improve over the next several weeks.
Here are the Tigers-Royals MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Tigers-Royals Odds
Detroit Tigers: -1.5 (+150)
Kansas City Royals: +1.5 (-182)
Over: 9 (+100)
Under: 9 (-122)
How To Watch Tigers vs. Royals
TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Fox Sports App
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET/4:40 p.m. PT
*Watch Tigers-Royals LIVE on fuboTV (click for a free trial)*
Why The Tigers Could Cover The Spread
The Tigers have been getting tremendous starting pitching from Reese Olson, who takes the mound for them in this game. Olson has been relentlessly consistent for Detroit this season, which creates the likelihood that the Tigers will hold the Royals under four runs, maybe even three. If the Tigers allow two runs to Kansas City in this game, the fact that they just scored 25 runs in their last three games (against the Arizona Diamondbacks) suggests that their severe hitting slump is over and they can win a game as long as they score four runs.
Why The Royals Could Cover The Spread
The Royals are simply a good team. They keep winning. They keep playing solid baseball. They just swept the Oakland A's over the weekend. They are now 29-19, solidly in playoff position. They're playing like a playoff team. They are better than the Tigers, chiefly because they have a better offense. Detroit has not given Reese Olson any run support this season, too. They lost 1-0 to the Marlins in 10 innings in Olson's most recent start. The Royals should be able to contain the Tigers' weak bats and cover the spread.
Final Tigers-Royals Prediction & Pick
The Royals are getting 1.5 runs from an inferior Detroit team. Reese Olson games usually go under. This is the rare game in which we offer a spread pick and a total pick. Take the Royals and the under.
Final Tigers-Royals Prediction & Pick: Royals +1.5, under 9
