Thursday, April 21, 2016

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Mike Pelfrey vs. Edinson Volquez

The Detroit Tigers visit Kauffman Stadium on Thursday to play the Kansas City Royals. The probable starters are Mike Pelfrey for the Tigers and Edinson Volquez for the Royals. The opening line for this matchup has Detroit at +151 and Kansas City at -161. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Tigers have a 9-3-0 over/under record and a 8-4-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 67% of the time. The Royals are 8-5-0 against the run line and have a 3-9-1 over/under record. They cover the spread 62% of the time.

The Tigers head into this matchup with a 7-5 record, including 5-3 on the road. Starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey has a 0-2 record with an earned run average of 2.79 and a WHIP of 1.97. He has 6 strikeouts over his 9.2 innings pitched and he has given up 12 hits so far this season. He has allowed 11.2 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.33. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.79 and they have given up 42 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .264 against the bullpen while being struck out 32 times and walking 11 times this season. As a team, Detroit has allowed 9.08 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.07 batters per nine. They are 19th in the league in team earned run average at 4.21. The Tigers pitchers have collectively given up 107 base hits and 46 earned runs. They have allowed 9 home runs this season and they allow 0.8 homers per nine innings as a staff. Detroit as a pitching staff has walked 44 batters and struck out 84. They walk 3.7 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.1 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.41 and their FIP as a unit is 3.90.

As a team, Detroit is batting .282, good for 3rd in the league while putting together a .278 average away from home. The Tigers hold a .454 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .340 which is good for 5th in baseball. They rank 1st in baseball with 10.17 hits per game. Miguel Cabrera comes into this game hitting .255 and his on-base percentage is at .352. He has 12 hits this season along with 7 runs scored and 6 runs batted in. He's struck out 13 times and has walked 7 times. Justin Upton is hitting .245 and he has an on-base percentage of .286. He has totaled 13 hits so far while scoring 7 runs and he's driven in 2. He has walked 3 times and has struck out 22 times. The Tigers have 122 hits, including 20 doubles and 18 home runs. They've stolen 2 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 2 times. Detroit has walked 38 times this season and they've struck out 108 times as a unit. They've left 89 men on base and have a team OPS of .794. They score 5.33 runs per contest and have scored a total of 64 runs so far this year.

Kansas City comes into this matchup with a 5-1 home record and a 9-4 overall mark. With an earned run average of 2.04, Edinson Volquez has a 2-0 record and a 1.19 WHIP. He has 17 strikeouts over the 17.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 14 hits. He has allowed 7.1 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.06. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.16 and they have given up 38 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .232 against the Royals bullpen while being struck out 50 times and walking 21 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 7.75 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.31 batters per nine. They are 7th in the league in team earned run average at 3.13. The Royals pitchers as a team have surrendered 99 base knocks and 40 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 10 home runs this year and they give up 0.8 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a staff has walked 58 hitters and struck out 119. They give up a walk 4.5 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.3 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.37 while their FIP as a staff is 3.71.

As a team, they are batting .254, good for 10th in the league while putting together a .241 average at home. The Royals hold a .387 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .304 which is good for 23rd in baseball. They rank 9th in baseball with 8.69 hits per contest. Eric Hosmer comes into this matchup batting .308 and he has an OBP of .345. He has 16 hits this year along with 7 runs scored and 5 RBI. He's struck out 8 times and has walked on 3 occasions. Lorenzo Cain is hitting .213 and he has an OBP of .327. He has collected 10 hits so far while he's scored 8 runs and drove in 6. He has earned a walk 8 times and has punched out 16 times. The Royals as a unit have 113 base hits, including 18 doubles and 11 homers. They have 6 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 1 time. Kansas City as a team has walked 33 times this year and they have struck out 99 times. They've had 91 men left on base and have an OPS of .691. They score 3.92 runs per game and have totaled 51 runs so far this season.

Detroit Tigers Betting Trends

The Detroit Tigers are 9-3-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Detroit Tigers are 8-4-0 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 3-9-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 8-5-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Detroit Tigers

04/19/16 DH Victor Martinez Knee "?" Wednesday vs. Kansas City Royals
04/12/16 C James McCann Ankle 15-day DL (4/12)
04/04/16 CF Cameron Maybin Wrist 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Daniel Norris Back 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Jeff Ferrell Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 P Angel Nesbitt Ankle 15-day DL (3/25)

Kansas City Royals

04/10/16 P Mike Minor Shoulder 60-day DL (3/15)
04/04/16 P Tim Collins Elbow 60-day DL; out for season
03/31/16 P Jason Vargas Elbow 60-day DL (3/15)

Tony's Pick: Take the Tigers

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