The Detroit Tigers return home to open a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, April 17. First pitch at Comerica Park is set for 6:40 PM ET. This is the first meeting of the season between the division rivals.
Detroit is 10-8 on the year and 5-1 at home. Kansas City is 8-11 overall and just 2-7 on the road. The Tigers won the last meeting 4-2 in September 2024, and the teams split last season’s head-to-head 10-10.
Tigers Preview – Elite Pitching, Cold Bats
Detroit has allowed just 3.72 runs per game this season, holding opponents to a .213 batting average and .284 on-base percentage. Their team ERA is 3.51, and their bullpen is one of the best in the league with a 2.88 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. The relievers have given up only 21 hits in 34.1 innings with a 40:11 groundball-to-flyball ratio.
Offensively, the Tigers are hitting .229 and scoring 4.50 runs per game. Spencer Torkelson leads the team with six home runs and 13 RBIs. Gleyber Torres is contributing from the DH spot, but Riley Greene is just 1-for-his-last-32 and dragging down the top of the order. The Tigers have hit the under in 42 of their last 80 home games.
Right-hander Reese Olson (1-1, 6.00 ERA) will start for Detroit. He gave up four runs in 4.1 innings in his last outing against Minnesota. Olson is 0-2 with a 3.80 ERA in five career starts versus the Royals, striking out 23 in 23.2 innings.
Royals Preview – Pitching Has Carried Struggling Offense
Kansas City is averaging just 3.05 runs per game, one of the lowest marks in the league. They are batting .231 with a .303 OBP and a 1.21 WHIP. Despite the lack of offense, their team ERA is 3.33, and their starters have posted a 3.15 ERA with just 1.17 WHIP and 5.6 strikeouts per game.
Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 3.71 ERA) will start for Kansas City. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last three starts. Against the Tigers in his career, Lorenzen is 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA in eight appearances, including three starts. In his most recent outing, he held Cleveland to three runs over 5.2 innings.
Offensively, Bobby Witt Jr. leads the team in hits, while Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez have been the main run producers. The Royals have scored 16 runs total in their last eight games and are just 7-12 to the over this season. They’ve also hit the team total under in 14 of their last 19 games.
Betting Prediction
Detroit is a -145 favorite, while Kansas City is listed at +131. The total is set at 8.0 runs. Both teams are built around pitching right now, and both have seen their offenses struggle in recent series. Detroit has hit the moneyline in 90 of its last 170 games and covered the run line in 97 of those.
Detroit’s strong home pitching and bullpen advantage should make the difference. Lorenzen has pitched well but hasn’t had the offensive support. Expect a tight, low-scoring game, with Detroit doing just enough to open the series with a win. Look for both teams to continue trending under the total.
Pick: Detroit Tigers -145 over Kansas City Royals on Thursday.
