Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions August 1st 2024

The forecast for Thursday’s matchup between the Royals and Tigers calls for cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 90s. This one is getting started at 6:40 PM ET from Comerica Park in Detroit, and the Royals are the favorites on the money line (-163).

The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs, and the Tigers will be looking to end a three-game losing streak. However, they are 4th in the AL Central, while the Royals are 2nd with a record of 60-49. Keider Montero is starting for the Tigers, and the Royals are sending Seth Lugo to the mound. BSKC is carrying this game on TV.

Kansas City vs. Detroit Key Information

Seth Lugo gets the start for the Royals today as he faces off against the Tigers on the road. So far this season, he has made 22 starts and has a record of 12-5. Lugo’s ERA for the season is an impressive 2.66, along with a WHIP of 1.04. In his 22 starts, he has turned in 16 quality starts and is averaging 7.84 strikeouts per nine innings. Lugo’s last outing came vs. the Cubs, where he took the loss, giving up six earned runs in 6 1/3 innings of work. Before that outing, he had gone 9 innings and allowed just one earned run vs. the White Sox.

As a team, the Royals are batting .252, which is the 7th best mark in the league. They are also one of the best home run hitting teams in the league, with a total of 114 homers. Kansas City’s offense is averaging 4.7 runs per game, but they have been even better at home, averaging 5.2 runs per contest.

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Bobby Witt Jr. has been on a tear of late, going 14/31 in his last eight games with seven RBIs. He is also on a 13-game hitting streak and is batting .349 for the season. Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez are both tied for the team lead with 19 homers, with Witt Jr. driving in 76 runs and Perez at 73.

Keider Montero gets the start for the Tigers today and will be looking to rebound from his last outing, where he gave up five earned runs and took the loss in five innings of work. Looking back over his last three outings, Montero has given up at least five earned runs in each. His ERA for the season is 6.38, along with a record of 1-4. Opposing batters are hitting .278 off Montero this year. Montero has made two quality starts this year and is averaging 7.61 strikeouts per nine innings. So far, he has allowed a total of 10 home runs.

Heading into today’s game, the Tigers are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 20th in the league. Overall, they are batting just .231, which is 19th in the MLB. Detroit’s team on-base percentage of .296 is also one of the league’s worst marks. The Tigers’ offense has been led by Riley Greene, who is hitting .264 for the season and has a team-high 51 RBIs. Greene also has 17 homers, which is 14th in the league.

Over his last 10 games, Colt Keith has gone 11/36, with two homers and four RBIs. However, Javier Baez has struggled of late, going just 4/25 in his last seven games. Parker Meadows comes into the game on a three-game hitting streak.

For an over/under pick, our lean would be on the over, as this is projected to be the 2nd lowest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Royals to pick up the win. Kansas City comes into this one with our 4th highest team win projection and 3rd highest runs scored projection. On the other side, Keider Montero has the 2nd lowest projected strikeouts among today’s starting pitchers.

Buyers at Deadline, Royals Face Tigers, Who Dealt Key Pieces

Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers adopted vastly various strategies leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline. The Royals, making a playoff push, added several vital participants, while the Tigers, zeroing in on the future, auctions off veterans for possibilities.

Royals Reinforce Their Program

The Royals, who are in a virtual tie for the subsequent American League wild-card spot, strengthened their program by adding three relievers and a utility infielder. They acquired relievers Lucas Erceg and Hunter Harvey, starter Michael Lorenzen, and infielder Paul DeJong. In their latest game, Erceg threw a scoreless inning, and DeJong singled and scored, assisting the Royals with finishing a three-game road clear of the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

“This moment, we’re attempting to have a farm framework that can supply our major league team with a ton of value, whether in a trade or on the field. We’re also attempting to succeed at the major leagues at this moment,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “I like the way our team is situated. I feel like we have the necessary parts of keep on contending at a significant level. We made a few upgrades, particularly in the warm up area, that will work well for us in ’24 and pushing ahead.”

Tigers Spotlight on Future Talent

The Tigers, then again, dealt catcher Carson Kelly, outfielder Mark Canha, starter Jack Flaherty, and reliever Andrew Chafin. They are presently depending on a generally unpracticed list until the end of the season.

“We feel like we added a haul of young talent at the deadline that is going to help us win a lot of games moving forward,” Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said.

None of the players acquired by the Tigers will be on the roster in the short term. Detroit has lost three straight games and six of its last eight. The Tigers, who are eight games out of the final AL wild-card spot with three more teams ahead of them, have been shut out in two of their last three games. Their top hitter, All-Star Riley Greene, is currently on the injured list due to a hamstring strain.

Pitching Matchup

The Tigers will have freshman Keider Montero on the hill in the series opener. Montero (1-4, 6.38 ERA) has battled in his last three starts, surrendering five earned runs in each of those excursions. Because of wounds and the trade of Flaherty, the Tigers are restricted in their starting choices.

“Execution is an issue,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’ve seen flashes that he can make it happen, and I’m anticipating his next start, yet I really think his battles revolve around consistency in his conveyance and execution. That’s the distinction between his great excursions and his not-very great trips.”

Montero will face the Royals interestingly. He’ll be gone against by All-Star Seth Lugo. The 34-year-old Lugo (12-5, 2.66 ERA) has posted the best season of his career, although he is hoping to bounce back from an unpleasant trip on Saturday, when he gave up a season-high six runs in 6 1/3 innings in a 9-4 misfortune to the Chicago Cubs.

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Lugo’s performance was marred by the Cubs’ seventh-inning comeback. He gave up three runs in the first three innings and was pulled in the seventh after the Cubs loaded the bases. Reliever Sam Long then gave up a go-ahead grand slam to Patrick Wisdom.

“(Lugo) gave us a really good chance to win. He is out there in the seventh after giving up three runs,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

Lugo has won both of his career starts against the Tigers, including seven shutout innings in April, while posting a 1.38 ERA.

Game Outlook

As the Royals and Tigers meet for this four-game series in Detroit, Kansas City will look to continue their momentum and solidify their playoff position with their newly strengthened roster. The Tigers, with a focus on developing their young talent, will seek to disrupt the Royals’ plans and gain valuable experience for their future stars. Fans can expect a dynamic and competitive series as these AL Central rivals face off.