Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers Odds
| Royals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-105 | 7 -115o / -105u | +1.5 -190 |
| Tigers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-115 | 7 -115o / -105u | -1.5 +155 |
The Royals enter this matchup on a five-game winning streak, scoring 37 runs during the stretch.
Scoring should be tougher on Wednesday against AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal (1.80 ERA across 55 innings), but the Royals are only a slight underdog behind their ace, Cole Ragans (3.70 ERA across 56 innings).
Read on for our Tigers vs Royals Prediction Today, including odds and a pick for Wednesday, May 22.
Kansas City Royals
Ragans came into the season with lofty expectations based on his elite arm talent and has mostly lived up to the hype. Two horrid starts versus the Orioles and Angels have hit his ERA (3.70), but the flame-throwing lefty has been dominant.
Ragans owns a Stuff+ rating of 112 and a Pitching+ rating of 104. Command issues have sometimes crept into his game (8.4% walk-rate), but on average, he has effectively commanded his excellent five-pitch mix.
He has a 3.21 expected FIP and a 3.48 expected ERA. Unfortunately, he's allowed a .364 batting average with RISP, hamstringing his statistical profile. If he can fix that issue, he will trend toward better results.
The Royals offense enters this matchup in excellent form, but they have beaten up some weak pitchers throughout this dominant winning streak. They've posted a 99 wRC+ over the past month, but they're less effective against lefties, with a 97 wRC+ on the season.
Detroit Tigers
Skubal has fully lived up to the off-season hype. After an excellent start to the year, he's now priced at around +150 (Bet365) to win the AL Cy Young. Skubal's 1.80 ERA largely aligns with his 2.08 expected ERA and 2.52 expected FIP. He owns an expected wOBA allowed of just .233.
He has displayed tremendous command of his excellent arsenal of pitches, reflected by a 105 Pitching+ rating. He has allowed an OBP of just .211, which is the best mark of any qualified starter.
He has done a great job getting ahead of hitters, with a strike rate of 71%. Once batters hit two strikes, they are close to hopeless, as Skubal has allowed a .121 slugging this season on two strikes.
The Tigers offense has been one of the worst in the league versus left-handed pitching. They own a 76 wRC+ and .619 OPS against southpaws, rather pedestrian marks.
Royals vs. Tigers
Betting Pick & Prediction
There is a lot of excitement around this starting pitching matchup as two AL Cy Young contenders go head-to-head. Both starters are fun to watch and feature electric stuff.
The total is low, but it might not be low enough.
Both lineups are in their worst split, as neither can hit lefties.
Ragans' two blowup games have come against top-six offenses versus lefties, while he has been dominant in the rest of his outings. Kansas City's bullpen has always been a concern, but it has stabilized to some extent and is more of a minor issue if Ragans can get through seven frames unscathed.
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