The Detroit Tigers (50-81) and their least productive lineup in baseball are set to host the Kansas City Royals (53-79) at Comerica Park on Friday to open a three-game series. The Royals are in the midst of a six-game road trip. They won only one out of three in their last series against the White Sox, dropping the finale 7-1 on Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Drew Waters was 2 for 3 with a double and one run.The Tigers are in the midst of a six-game homestand. They were just swept in three games against the Mariners, dropping the finale 7-0 on Thursday at Comerica Park. Riley Greene’s hitting streak is now at 10 as he went 2 for 4.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Royals have won six of 10 in the season series between the AL Central rivals, including a 5-2 victory in their most recent meeting on July 13 at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Starter Brady Singer got the win, allowing one run on seven hits over six innings and striking out six, and Scott Barlow earned his 15th save with a scoreless ninth.
ON THE MOUND
Daniel Lynch (4-9, 4.70 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Kansas City. The LHP allowed four runs over five innings in his last start, a 4-3 road defeat against the Padres on Saturday. He was charged with the loss, scattering nine hits while striking out six and walking one.Lynch has made one previous start against the Tigers this season, a 7-3 home victory on July 11. He surrendered three runs on six hits over four innings, striking out three and walking one. For Detroit, righty Drew Hutchison (2-7, 4.01 ERA) takes the mound. He has made one prior appearance against the Royals this season, holding opposing hitters scoreless over three innings in a 3-1 road defeat on April 16. He gave up one hit and walked one, while striking out three in the no-decision. In his last start on Sunday, Hutchison got the win on the road against the Rangers. He threw 5.1 innings and gave up two runs on four hits, striking out three and walking two in the 9-8 victory.
AT THE PLATE
The Kansas City offense is averaging 3.9 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .244/.308/.380. Bobby Witt Jr. leads the team in OPS at .734. The shortstop is slashing .251/.292/.442 with 19 home runs, 66 RBIs, and 67 runs over 121 games. Over the last five games, however, Kansas City has averaged 6.0 runs a game while slashing better across the board (.284/.332/.464). Against right-handed pitchers like Hutchison this season, the Royals have a .674 OPS, fourth lowest in the league. Witt Jr. also is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .737 OPS in 348 at-bats. Detroit is slashing .229/.285/.337 for the season and averaging 3.3 runs per game, lowest in MLB. Javier Baez leads the team with a .631 OPS. The shortstop has 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 47 runs scored with a slash line of .224/.267/.364. Detroit is averaging 5.2 runs per game in the last five with a better slash line (.279/.325/.413). The Tigers have a .695 OPS against lefties in 2022. With a .827 OPS over 102 at-bats, Baez also has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Kansas City is 21-42 away from Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium in 2022, scoring 3.7 runs per game while allowing 5.2 runs. Detroit has lost three in a row at Comerica Park. The Tigers are 28-38 at home this season, averaging 3.5 runs per game while surrendering 4.4. In the last 10 games between the teams at Comerica Park, each club has won five with an average scoreline of 3.4-3.4.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Royals are fourth in the AL Central, 16 games behind the division-leading Guardians. The Tigers are fifth in the AL Central, 19 games behind the Guardians.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Kansas City Royals (-105)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
