Detroit Tigers At Kansas City Royals
Time: 8:10 PM EDT
Line: KC -1.5
M/L: KC -117; DET +107
Total runs: 8
Betting odds c/o Bovada
The Detroit Tigers and K.C. Royals are both off to hot starts. Detroit is 15-7 and hosting Kansas City is 14-7.
Early odds at Bovada featured the Royals as favorites with a -117 moneyline bet. The total for runs is set at 8. MLB oddsmakers set the run line at -1.5 KC.
The Tigers are sending a dominant Alfredo Simon to the mound. He has already won four games this year and this is a matchup of two teams that are racing for the division pennant. Simon has a 1.65 ERA with his 4-0 record and has been a big acquisition since coming from Cincinnati in a trade. No Tiger has won his first five games since Frank Tanana in 1988. Simon said “Sometimes you pitch a good game and you don’t win. Overtime I go out there, I just try to do my job, try to win the game.”
The reality is, he’s stopping teams and requiring very little run support. He’s given up just two runs in his past 22 innings while throwing deep in both, past the seventh inning. Catcher Alex Avila said he’s never caught anyone like Simon, saying “it looks like he’s playing wiffle ball out there. Nothing will affect him.” That resolve will be needed against the Royals. Simon threw for 6 2/3rds innings on Saturday and gave up just one run as the Tigers knocked off the Indians. Brad Ausmus commented on the ease with which he pitches, saying “he just doesn’t look like he breaks a sweat out there.”
The Tigers have won four of its past five contests and won 10-7 over the Twins on Wed. Miguel Cabrere hit 3 of 5 with two homers. Ian Kindler also had two hits, as did five other Tigers. Detroit has won eight of its past 10 SU vs. the Royals and hit .319 in those games. It was basically what allowed the Tigers to prevail as the division champs. Cabrera, though, has struggled against Kansas City, hitting just 7 of 37 last year.
Kansas City is 7-2 at home this year, and split its series with Cleveland after losing 7-5. Alcides Escobar was hit in the head with a wild pitch in the fifth inning, and he suffered a bruised cheek/headache, but he didn’t have it x-rayed nor go to the hospital. He said it just made him very dizzy and that he felt OK.
The Royals will send Danny Duffy to the mound. He’s 1-0 this season with a 4.15 ERA, but has been fairly effective. Since having a poor season debut, he’s thrown 2.70 ERA in his past three starts. He gave up just one run in 5 1/3rds innings against the Chicago White Sox last outing, and was set to pick up a win but the Royals lost 3-2. He’s 1-6 in his seven career decisions against Detroit, and he’s lost five of his six home meetings. Duffy is not the dominant pitcher that Simon is, and that battle will give the Tigers the edge allotted to them by MLB oddsmakers.
RECENT TRENDS
Detroit:
• Under is 7-2 in DET last 9 Thu. games.
• Over is 8-3 in DET last 11 road games.
• DET are 11-5 in their last 16 Thu. games.
Kansas City:
• KC are 14-4 in their last 18 home games.
• KC are 31-13 in their last 44 overall.
• KC are 31-13 in their last 44 games on grass.
Head to Head:
• DET are 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
