Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals MLB Odds Pick

Either the Detroit Tigers or Kansas City Royals have won the American League Central Division each of the past five years. However, they are both staring up at first-place Cleveland as things stand now. The Tigers visit Kansas City to open a four-game set on Thursday night. The Tigers are currently +350 on betting lines to win the Central and the Royals +280. K.C. should be a slight favorite in the sportsbook odds.

How To Bet on the Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals MLB Odds Pick & TV Info

What are friends for @goldbergkc? #ForeverRoyal #Royals pic.twitter.com/XZdcctFFFD

— #VoteRoyals (@Royals) June 15, 2016

When: Thursday, June 16, 8:15 PM ET Where: Kaufmann Stadium, Kansas City Probable pitchers (away/home): Justin Verlander/Danny Duffy TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: Detroit / Kansas City Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Tigers at Royals Historic Betting Trends

These teams have played three games against one another thus far and it was back from April 19-21 in Kansas City. The Royals won the opener 8-6. Catcher Salvador Perez had a three-run homer on the way to a career-high five RBIs. Alcides Escobar drove in a pair of runs. The Tigers did little to help out Shane Greene, who allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. In Game 2, the Tigers won 3-2 behind two RBIs from Ian Kinsler. It came down to the wire when Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez served up back-to-back homers to Alex Gordon and Perez in the ninth. But the veteran closer bounced back to strike out Mike Moustakas and leave runners on first and second. Gordon and Moustakas are currently out for the Royals due to injury, with Moustakas out for the year. And in the finale, the Royals won 4-0 behind seven scoreless innings from Edinson Volquez. Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey allowed all four runs — three of them earned — on eight hits and five walks in five innings. The Tigers go with ace right-hander Justin Verlander (6-5, 3.77) in this one. He picked up the win Saturday against the Yankees. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing one run, five hits and one walk while striking out five. After relying heavily on his four-seam fastball early, Verlander turned toward his off-speed stuff later in the game. The former Cy Young winner didn’t complete the seventh inning for the first time since May 3, a run that stretched across his last six starts. However, Verlander allowed five hits or less for the fourth straight outing while lowering his ERA to a season-best 3.77. He had issued two or more free passes in his first 10 starts of the year, but has only allowed a total of two over his last three. Verlander didn’t face the Royals in the first series. The Royals go with the guy who has become their best starter of late in lefty Danny Duffy (2-1, 2.94). Duffy mowed down 10 White Sox over six innings of three-hit, shutout ball in Saturday’s 4-1 victory. He also walked three. The 27-year-old was masterful while taking the mound a day earlier than scheduled, turning in his third consecutive quality start. Duffy threw 58 of 88 pitches for strikes, upping his pitch count for the second straight start. Duffy has looked stronger in each outing since he’s moved out of the bullpen. The scouting report on Duffy has always centered on his electric stuff, but it also has had to mention his less-than-stellar command. That began to change this year as he ditched his windup to work permanently out of the stretch. Duffy is commanding his fastball on both sides of the plate, and making hitters hit on his terms. Duffy has thrown two innings of relief this season vs. the Tigers, allowing three runs.

Expert Betting Prediction

Duffy has been much worse at home with a 4.76 ERA so go Tigers behind Verlander on betting lines as they also have the much better lineup.