In this article, we will formulate a Royals vs Tigers Prediction for this MLB matchup on Thursday, April 16th in the third game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Detroit Tigers Preview
The Detroit Tigers have a 9-9 record this season and are sitting in the third place of the AL Central. They have a 7-1 home record and are coming off a 2-1 home win against the Royals. Their previous three games were a 2-1 home win against the Royals, an 8-2 home win, and a 6-1 home win against the Marlins.
The Tigers have a .237 batting average this season, .322 OBP and .365 Slugging percentage. Detroit’s pitching staff has a 3.35 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Kevin McGonigle is the team’s best hitter with a .313 batting average. Dillon Dingler leads the team in RBI with 12, and Kerry Carpenter adds a team‑high 3 home runs.
Keider Montero (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Tigers, and he has a 1-1 record, 1.74 ERA and 0.68 WHIP.
Kansas City Royals Preview
The Kansas City Royals have a 7-11 record this season and are sitting in the fourth place of the AL Central. They have a 2-6 away record and are coming off a 1-2 road loss against the Tigers. Their previous three games were a 1-2 road loss against the Tigers, a 5-6 home loss, and a 2-0 home win against the White Sox.
The Royals have a .214 batting average this season, .301 OBP and .330 Slugging percentage. Kansas City’s pitching staff has a 3.73 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Jac Caglianone is the team’s best hitter with a .275 batting average. Carter Jensen leads the team in RBI with 9, also adding a team‑high 4 home runs.
Kris Bubic (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Royals, and he has a 2-1 record, 2.50 ERA and 0.83 WHIP.
Kansas City Royals @ Detroit Tigers Betting Trends: April 16, 2026
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Keider Montero Record this season: 1-1 ERA: 1.74
- Home Record: 1-1
- Last 5 against Royals: 0-1
Why the Detroit Tigers will win
- The home team has won each of the Tigers’ last nine games.
- The Royals have lost each of their last eight Thursday day games at Comerica Park.
- The Tigers have covered the run line in each of their last seven games as underdogs against the Royals.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games as favorites against the Tigers following a road loss.
- The Royals have lost the first inning in each of their last three games as road favorites against AL Central opponents.
- The Tigers have led after 3 innings in six of their last seven home games.
- The Tigers have led after 5 innings in each of their last four home day games.
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Kris Bubic Record this season: 2-1 ERA: 2.50
- Road Record: 0-0
- Last 5 against Tigers: 0-1
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The Tigers have lost seven of their last eight day games against AL Central opponents following a win.
- The Royals have won six of their last seven day games following a road loss.
- The Tigers have failed to cover the run line each of their last nine games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Royals have covered the run line in each of their last seven Thursday road games.
- The Tigers have lost the first inning in each of their last five Thursday games as home underdogs against American League opponents.
- The Tigers have trailed after 3 innings in five of their last six games as underdogs.
- The Tigers have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games as underdogs.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Royals’ last eight road games against AL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the last five games between the Royals and Tigers have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last eight day games between the Royals and Tigers.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Royals’ last seven games at Comerica Park.
Detroit Tigers Player Prop Facts
- Kerry Carpenter has hit a home run in three of his last five home appearances after playing the previous day.
- Kerry Carpenter has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances in day games against AL Central teams that held a losing record.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Maikel Garcia has hit a home run in three of the Royals’ last six games against the Tigers.
- Kris Bubic has recorded six or more strikeouts in four of his last five road appearances against AL opponents.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one hit in each of the Royals’ last nine Thursday day games.
- Kris Bubic has recorded a win in four of his last five road appearances.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranks T1st in the league in Steals (8) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Tigers rank 1st in the league for home runs allowed this season (10).
- The Tigers rank 29th in the league for steals this season (6).
- The Royals rank 29th in the league for runs scored this season (56).
- The Royals rank 29th in the league for slugging percentage this season (.330).
Royals vs Tigers Prediction
The Tigers are 7-2 in their last 9 meetings against the Royals and are 4-1 in their last 5 meetings in Detroit.
In this Royals vs Tigers Prediction, the Royals are coming as -115 road favorites. The Tigers have won both games in this series by 2-1 and have five consecutive wins. Both pitchers have been very good this season and both are coming off a shutout start and they also had quality starts against the other team last season. Detroit has the 4th-best bullpen ERA and have been terrible against lefties, so this sets up for another low-scoring affair. Take the under 8 in this one.