Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers Picks and Predictions September 16th 2024

Royals Determined to Get Bats Going vs. Tigers

The Kansas City Royals will aim to get back on track offensively as they open a crucial three-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Monday night. Despite leading the American League in batting average with runners in scoring position (.285), the Royals struggled in that department on Sunday, going just 1-for-12 during a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“We needed to capitalize more,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We had baserunners in several innings (on Sunday) and just couldn’t come up with the big hit to take the lead or break it open.”

With the postseason rapidly approaching, Quatraro knows how important it is for Kansas City to find consistency at the plate, especially when it comes to clutch hitting. The Royals are currently holding onto the second American League wild-card spot, but with the Minnesota Twins (2 1/2 games back) and the Tigers (five games back) still within striking distance, there’s little room for error.

“I really believe in the volatility of that,” Quatraro said. “It’s not something that’s going to be steady all the time, hitting with runners in scoring position.”

Seth Lugo Takes the Mound for Kansas City

Right-hander Seth Lugo (16-8, 2.94 ERA) will get the start for the Royals in the series opener, hoping to continue his strong season. Lugo has been a consistent force in Kansas City’s rotation, and his most recent outing was another gem. He earned a win against the New York Yankees last Tuesday, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits, striking out 10, and walking none.

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Lugo has been especially dominant against Detroit. In three career starts versus the Tigers, he holds a perfect 3-0 record with a 1.29 ERA. Two of those outings have come this year, where he has limited Detroit to just one run and seven hits across 15 innings.

Tigers Look to Keep Wild-Card Hopes Alive

The Detroit Tigers, in the mean time, are new off a fruitful series against the Baltimore Orioles, where they removed two from three games notwithstanding scoring only seven stumbles into the series. The Tigers will hope to keep their season finisher trusts alive as they trail the Royals by five games in the wild-card race.

Riley Greene gave a flash in Detroit’s 4-2 win over the Orioles on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with two grand slams and three RBIs. Greene, a first-time Top pick this season, has been ablaze as of late, hitting .389 (14-for-36) over his beyond nine games.

“He’s not a finished product, and I know the All-Star season makes you feel that way,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said of Greene. “He’s still learning, growing and developing. He’s getting more and more comfortable with his game plan, and I thought he did a great job with that specifically.”

Detroit has won six of its past eight games, keeping themselves in the postseason conversation. Despite facing offensive struggles, Hinch believes his team can stay focused and keep pushing forward.

“I think we just need to keep showing up every day to play,” Hinch said. “We’re going to stay grounded where we’re at and just take the next step toward the next game.”

Tigers’ Pitching Situation Unclear

As the Royals and Tigers enter this basic series, the two groups have a lot on the line. Kansas City will hope to recapture their hostile capability, particularly with sprinters in scoring position, while Detroit will expect to proceed with their push toward the postseason. With Seth Lugo on the hill for the Royals and Riley Greene giving the flash to the Tigers, Monday’s opener vows to be a vital challenge for the two crews as they fight for an American League wild-card spot.

“Everything is going fine,” Hinch said on Saturday. “We don’t really have to fully commit, so I’m doing my best to not fully commit, but I’m sure hoping that (Olson) pitches in the Kansas City series.”

If Olson does return to the mound, he’ll need to quickly regain his form in a pivotal series for both teams as they fight for a potential wild-card spot. Whether it’s Olson or another arm, Detroit will need strong pitching to counter Kansas City’s potent lineup and keep their playoff dreams alive.

Conclusion

As the Royals and Tigers enter this basic series, the two groups have a lot on the line. Kansas City will hope to recapture their hostile capability, particularly with sprinters in scoring position, while Detroit will expect to proceed with their push toward the postseason. With Seth Lugo on the hill for the Royals and Riley Greene giving the flash to the Tigers, Monday’s opener vows to be a vital challenge for the two crews as they fight for an American League wild-card spot.