The Detroit Tigers (77-73) and Kansas City Royals (82-68) meet on Monday to open a 3-game series. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET. Let’s check out BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Tigers vs Royals Opportunities and place your best bets with our expert MLB tips and predictions.

Season series: Royals lead 7-3

The Tigers entered the AL Wild Card hunt with a 15-7 record in their last 22 games. They are on the road after a key home stretch that ended with a 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. Detroit has a 7-3 record in its last 10 road games.

Kansas City lost 4-3 to the Pittsburg Pirates on Sunday, but has a 7-3 record in its last 10 games after a dismal stretch from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3. The Royals lost 7 straight games during that span, but the club has bounced back and heads into the final two weeks of the season with a 2½ game lead on the 3rd and final AL Wild Card spot.

Expected starters for Tigers at Royals

To be announced vs. RHP Seth Lugo

Detroit had not yet announced a starter, but RHP Reese Olson (4-8, 3.23 ERA) could make his 20th start. He has a WHIP of 1.18, 2.7 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 after 103 IP.

• Missed nearly 2 months due to a shoulder strain
• Last start: No decision, 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K in a 7-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on July 20
• Away statistics 2024: 1-4, 3.02 ERA (53 2/3 IP, 18 ER), 1.19 WHIP, 8.6 K/9 in 11 starts
• Career against Royals: 0-2, 2.53 ERA (21 1/3 IP, 6 ER), 1.22 WHIP, 10.5 K/9 in 4 starts

Lugo (16-8, 2.94 ERA) is making his 31st start. He has a 1.09 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 7.9 K/9 in 193 IP.

• Last appearance: Win, 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 10 K in the 5-0 win at the New York Yankees on Tuesday
• Career against Tigers: 3-0, 1.29 ERA (21 IP, 3 ER), 0.91 WHIP, 8.1 K/9 in 3 starts

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Tigers at Royals odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; visit the USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds Hub for a complete list of MLB odds. Odds last updated at 7:40 a.m. ET.

• Money line: Tigers +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Royals -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
• Run Line (RL)/Against the Spread (ATS): Tigers +1.5 (-175) | Royals -1.5 (+145)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)

Tips and predictions for the Tigers at the Royals

forecast

Royals 5, Tigers 4

Money line

KANSAS-CITY (-150) has a record of 6-1 in their last seven games against Detroit.

The Royals’ 5.00 runs per home game are 5th in the MLB. Their offensive numbers have been a bit depressed lately as they’ve batted in some shaky games with runners in scoring position.

Olson only threw 45 pitches in his last rehab outing at Triple-A, so don’t expect him to go far if he’s in the starting lineup.

The Bengals have a record of just 1-4 in their last five road series openers.

KANSAS-CITY (-150) is the value side of this Monday game at Kaufman Stadium.

Running Line/Against the Spread

Get more bang for your buck in the ML and avoid the RL with a Detroit club that plays a lot of one-run games. HAPPEN.

Over/Under

The last 7 meetings in the series have resulted in a 5-2 lead for Over. In the Tigers’ away games, Over has a record of 40-31-4.

Lugo and Olson are solid pitchers, but both have higher expected ERAs. Both have favorable numbers around the boundaries, which are most affected by luck factors like batting average on balls in play.

On a warm day in Kansas City and with a Royals lineup that is slightly undervalued according to recent numbers, SUPPORT THE OVER 8.5 (+100).

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