The Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers meet Thursday in MLB action from Comerica Park. This will be the final installment in a three-game series. The Tigers powered out a three-run win in the opener, then on Wednesday we had a suspended game. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Kansas City Royals 

The Royals had a 2-0 lead at one point in the Tuesday opener of this set but eventually lost 6-3. Salvador Perez finished with two hits and an RBI in the defeat. On Wednesday in game two, Kanas City was down 4-0 before the matchup was suspended due to weather. That one will be made up at 1:10 p.m. prior to this game three finale. 

In the starting pitcher role for Thursday’s finale the Royals are going with Cole Ragans. This year Ragans is 7-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 28 games (11 starts). Ragans has gone 4-0 with a 2.53 ERA over his last seven starts. 

Kansas City Royals Team Facts

The Royals have lost 10 of their last 11 day games following a road loss.
The Royals have covered the run line in six of their last seven games.
The Royals have led after 3 innings in each of their last six games.
The Royals have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last eight Thursday road games.
The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last five games at Comerica Park.

Detroit Tigers

Over on the Detroit side, they got solo home runs from both Parker Meadows (two hits; two runs) and Akil Baddoo in the Tuesday win. In game two the Tigers saw home run number 511 for 21-year MLB veteran Miguel Cabrera prior to the suspension. 

It’ll be Sawyer Gipson-Long in the starting role Thursday. Long is 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA in three starts this year (the first three of his career). He has 20 Ks in 15.0 innings. 

Detroit Tigers Team Facts

The Tigers have won each of their last seven day games against AL Central opponents.
The Tigers have covered the run line each of their last six Thursday games against teams that held a losing record.
The Tigers have led after 3 innings in each of their last three day games against the Royals.
The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last five games between the Royals and Tigers at Comerica Park.
The Tigers have led after 7 innings in each of their last 10 day games against AL Central opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

The Detroit Tigers rank 29th in the league for runs scored this season (628).
The Detroit Tigers rank 29th in the league for RBI’s this season (602).
The Kansas City Royals rank 2nd in the league for triples this season (42).
The Kansas City Royals rank T2nd in the league for steals this season (159).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll stick with the Royals in this one. We should have a nice pitching battle with the starters regardless, though. Ragans is 1-0 with nine earned runs over his last three starts in 17.2 innings. (Five of those earned runs came in one six-inning start versus Houston.) As for Gipson-Long, he’s got just two earned in his last two starts over 10.0 frames. I like both starters to post solid outings in this one. On Wednesday Kansas City fell behind rather quickly; it’s probably good for the team that the game was suspended. I’ll probably stay away from this one due to the uncertainty.