Saturday, June 18, 2016

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Matt Boyd vs. Edinson Volquez

The Detroit Tigers head to Kauffman Stadium on Saturday to take on the Kansas City Royals. The probable pitchers are Matt Boyd for the Tigers and Edinson Volquez for the Royals. The opening line for this game has Detroit at +124 and Kansas City at -134. The over/under is 8.5. The Tigers have a 38-24-4 over/under mark and a 38-28-0 run line record, meaning they cover 58% of the time. The Royals are 36-30-0 against the run line and have a 28-34-4 over/under record. They cover the spread 55% of the time.

The Tigers head into this game with a 34-32 record, and they are 17-19 on the road. Starting pitcher Matt Boyd has a 0-1 record with an ERA of 4.91 and a WHIP of 1.36. He has 20 strikeouts during his 25.2 innings pitched and he has given up 24 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 8.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.4. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 4.30 and they have allowed 199 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .264 against the pen while they've been struck out 165 times and walked 68 times this year. As a unit, Detroit has given up 9.05 base hits per nine innings while striking out 7.35 hitters per nine. They are 21st in the Majors in team earned run average at 4.36. The Tigers pitchers have collectively given up 585 base hits and 282 earned runs. They have allowed 70 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Detroit as a pitching staff has walked 204 batters and struck out 475. They walk 3.2 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.3 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.36 and their FIP as a unit is 4.21.

As a team, Detroit is hitting .272, good for 3rd in the league while putting together a .263 average on the road. The Tigers have a .444 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .331 which is good for 6th in the league. They rank 4th in baseball with 9.41 hits per contest. Nick Castellanos comes into this game hitting .296 and his on-base percentage is at .329. He has 71 hits this season along with 32 runs scored and 39 runs batted in. He's struck out 65 times and has walked 14 times. Ian Kinsler is hitting .312 and he has an on-base percentage of .366. He has totaled 83 hits so far while scoring 57 runs and he's driven in 45. He has walked 19 times and has struck out 49 times. The Tigers have 621 hits, including 113 doubles and 84 home runs. They've stolen 25 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 11 times. Detroit has walked 198 times this season and they've struck out 564 times as a unit. They've left 456 men on base and have a team OPS of .776. They score 4.82 runs per contest and have scored a total of 318 runs so far this year.

Kansas City comes into this game with a 22-8 home mark and a 35-31 overall record. With an ERA of 3.90, Edinson Volquez has a 6-6 record and a 1.36 WHIP. He has 67 strikeouts over the 85.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 83 hits. He has allowed 8.8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.02. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.79 and they have given up 190 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .232 against the Royals bullpen while being struck out 214 times and walking 75 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.58 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.27 batters per nine. They are 12th in the league in team earned run average at 4.04. The Royals pitchers as a team have surrendered 550 base knocks and 259 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 84 home runs this year and they give up 1.3 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a staff has walked 220 hitters and struck out 530. They give up a walk 3.4 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.3 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.34 while their FIP as a staff is 4.47.

As a team, they are batting .270, good for 4th in the league while putting together a .279 average at home. The Royals hold a .406 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .318 which is good for 17th in baseball. They rank 7th in baseball with 9.2 hits per contest. Eric Hosmer comes into this matchup batting .315 and he has an OBP of .372. He has 78 hits this year along with 35 runs scored and 41 RBI. He's struck out 51 times and has walked on 23 occasions. Lorenzo Cain is hitting .287 and he has an OBP of .340. He has collected 71 hits so far while he's scored 31 runs and drove in 36. He has earned a walk 19 times and has punched out 61 times. The Royals as a unit have 607 base hits, including 108 doubles and 59 homers. They have 43 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 16 times. Kansas City as a team has walked 147 times this year and they have struck out 487 times. They've had 446 men left on base and have an OPS of .725. They score 3.85 runs per game and have totaled 254 runs so far this season.

Detroit Tigers Betting Trends

The Detroit Tigers are 38-24-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Detroit Tigers are 38-28-0 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 28-34-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 36-30-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Detroit Tigers

06/17/16 RF J.D. Martinez Elbow 15-day DL (6/17)
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

05/26/16 3B Mike Moustakas Knee 60-day DL (5/23); out for season
05/23/16 LF Alex Gordon Wrist 15-day DL (5/22)
05/12/16 P Kris Medlen Shoulder 15-day DL (5/11)
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)

Josh's Pick: Take the Royals

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn