Justin Verlander: Detroit Tigers SP Takes on the Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals (36-32) and Detroit Tigers (36-29) will open up an American League Central series Monday night at Comerica Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:08 p.m. ET

Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are 7-6 as home favorites of -125 to -150 this season

Kansas City has won seven games in a row, including a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox as -151 road favorites Sunday, while going OVER the betting total for a third consecutive affair. The Royals will be led by designated hitter Billy Butler in this affair, as he owns a .432 career average versus tonight’s opposing starter. Kansas City is 2-6 as road underdogs of +125 to +150 this season, with the UNDER going 5-1-2 in that situation.

Royals starting pitcher Jason Vargas (6-2, 3.30 ERA) has watched the club alternate wins and losses over his last four efforts, as he comes off a 9-5 home victory over the Cleveland Indians—allowing three runs and six hits over 7.2 innings of work. The left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.60 ERA in six road games, with opposing hitters batting .206 against him. Vargas has compiled a 0-1 record and 6.00 ERA in his first two games versus the Tigers in 2014.

Detroit won two of three games against the Minnesota Twins over the weekend, including a 4-3 victory as -142 home favorites Sunday, while going UNDER the betting total for the third time in four contests. Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler is 16 for 50 in his career against Vargas, while they’ve gone 12-7 versus left-handed starters overall this season. Detroit is 7-6 as home favorites of -125 to -150, with the UNDER going 6-5-3 in those 13 opportunities.

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (6-6, 4.61 ERA) has dropped four of his last five efforts, including an 8-2 setback on the road to the Chicago White Sox last week—surrendering seven runs and eight hits over 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander is 2-4 with a 3.77 ERA in seven home outings, with opposing hitters batting .279 against him. In 31 career starts versus the Royals, Verlander has produced a dominating 17-5 record and 2.89 ERA, including a 1-0 mark and 3.46 ERA in two outings this season.