Tigers vs. Royals Prediction: Skubal’s Dominance Favors Under 7 Runs

Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers
Date: Sunday, April 20th, 1:40 ET
Location: Comerica Park
TV: None
Money Line: Royals +171/Tigers -202
Total Line: 7

Betting Preview

Here’s our betting preview for the upcoming MLB clash between the Detroit Tigers and the Royals on Sunday, April 20th at Comerica Park. We provide you with a comprehensive analysis, odds, and predictions to help with your handicapping decision or tail our expert based on the projected lineups and listed starting pitchers.

Betting Odds

Michael Wacha will start for the Royals on Sunday, as they are looking to snap a six-game losing streak. The Royals are +171 on the money line, while the Tigers, who are 13-8, are the betting favorite at -202. Sunday’s forecasted temperature in Detroit is 50 degrees, with scattered clouds.

Tarik Skubal will be on the mound for the Tigers, who have won three straight and are currently first in the AL Central. The over/under line is at seven runs, and the first pitch from Comerica Park is set for 1:40 PM ET.

Royals vs. Tigers Projected Lineup

Straight Up/Over-Under/ Runline Record

Kansas City Royals: 8-14 SU / OU 8-14 / Runline 8-14
Detroit Tigers: 13-8 SU / OU 9-11 / Runline 13-8

Detroit rallied for three runs in the 5th inning in the most recent game of this Tigers vs. Royals series. The Tigers scored one run in the 1st inning but didn’t score another run until putting up three in the 5th, picking up a 3-1 win. Heading into the game, the Tigers were favored at -130 on the money line.

Casey Mize started for the Tigers and picked up the win, going seven innings and giving up just one run. He finished the game with three strikeouts and allowed one home run. Will Vest got the save. Seth Lugo only went 6 2/3 innings for the Royals but gave up just three earned runs on five hits.

Spencer Torkelson hit the game’s only home run while going 1/3 with three RBIs. Freddy Fermin also had a two-hit game for the Royals.

Royals Records & Recent Play

Kansas City is on a six-game losing streak, and they are 8-14 overall, putting them 5.5 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central. So far, they are 5-8 in divisional games. The Royals have dropped three straight games vs. the Tigers and are just 2-10 on the road this year.

So far, the Royals have not won a game as the underdog this year, going 0-4. They are also 0-4 in one-run games and have struggled in night games, going 3-9. Kansas City’s overall series record is 2-4, and they have lost two straight series.

Tigers Records & Recent Play

Detroit currently leads the AL Central with a record of 13-8, which includes an 8-1 mark against other teams in the division. The Tigers have won three straight games, and they have taken the first three games of their series vs. the Royals. So far, they have been really good at home, going 8-1 this season.

So far, the Tigers have yet to play a game as the favorite this season. As for how they have done as the underdog, they are 13-8 this year. Detroit’s overall record over their last 10 games is 6-4.

Pitching Matchup

Michael Wacha will be making his fourth start of the season for the Royals, and it will be his third road start. Wacha has had a tough time picking up a win, as he has taken the loss in each of his first three outings. His last start came against the Yankees, where he went 5 2/3 innings and gave up three earned runs.

Tarik Skubal has been solid in his first two starts of the season, picking up wins in each outing. He started the year with a six-inning, six-strikeout performance against the Yankees, and then followed that up with nine strikeouts in 7 innings vs. the Brewers. Skubal has yet to allow an earned run this season, but he did give up three runs in his first start, but they were all unearned.

Royals vs. Tigers Offense Outlook

The Royals offense has been the worst in the league so far, averaging just 2.9 runs per game. They have been even worse in terms of power, as their 11 home runs are the fewest in the league, and they are also near the bottom of the league in terms of batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Bobby Witt Jr. has been a bright spot for the team, as he is hitting .310 for the season and went 8/25 over his last six games.

Witt Jr. is also on a 12-game hitting streak, and his eight RBIs are the 3rd most in the league. The Royals will need more production from Salvador Perez, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Maikel Garcia, as all three are tied for the team lead with two homers but are all batting under .200 for the season.

Spencer Torkelson has been the Tigers’ top power threat this season, as his seven home runs are 3rd in the league and the top mark on the Tigers’ roster. He is also 3rd in the league in RBIs, as he has driven in 21 runs so far. However, he is looking to get his batting average back on track, as he has gone just 6/25 in his last seven games. Kerry Carpenter has been hot of late, going 10/24 in his last seven games, including one home run.

As a team, the Tigers are averaging 4.6 runs per game, which is 9th in the league. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.3 runs per game. Detroit is also one of the league’s top home run-hitting teams and is batting a collective .245.

Free Royals vs. Tigers MLB Pick

With Michael Wacha and Tarik Skubal on the mound, the over/under line is sitting at just seven runs, but even with that number sounding low, I think Skubal shuts down the Royals, and this game finishes under seven runs.