Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/31/2025

Game Time: 4:10 pm ET, Saturday, May 31, 2025

Venue:  Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Where to Watch:  FDSKC

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Tigers -175, Royals +145; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Tigers -175, Royals +145; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Tigers -175, Royals +145; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Detroit Tigers:  37-20 (1st place, AL Central)

Kansas City Royals:  30-27 (4th place, AL Central)

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Detroit Tigers:  6-4 last 10

Kansas City Royals:  5-5 last 10

The Tigers are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the San Francisco Giants 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 37-20 record overall and have a road record of 16-12. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Royals on Saturday with the series opener still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 8th in the MLB with a .733 OPS. Casey Mize is their starting pitcher on Friday while Tarik Skubal is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 5-2 with a 2.49 ERA this season. His team won their last 6 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 0 ER, 0 HR, and 0 BB with 13 Ks on 2 hits through 9 IP against the Cleveland Guardians.

The Royals are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 30-27 record overall and have a home record of 18-11. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Tigers on Saturday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 26th in the MLB with a .662 OPS. Seth Lugo is their starting pitcher on Friday while Michael Wacha is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 3-4 with a 3.21 ERA this season. His team won 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 4 earned runs, 2 homers, and 1 BB with 1 strikeout on 7 hits through 5 innings played against the Minnesota Twins.

The current betting odds have the Tigers listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Tigers have looked great in their games this season with their 37-20 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL Central with the best record in the entire MLB. They have been a good road team too with their 16-12 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Royals have looked good in their games this season with their 30-27 record overall, but that record has them near the bottom of the AL Central in a really good division. They have looked better in their own ballpark with their 18-11 home record, but they are only 5-5 in their last 10 games and haven't looked great lately. Their offense hasn't been putting up a ton of runs lately and they have one of the weakest offenses in the MLB this year which really plays into the Tigers hands. The Tigers have one of the best pitching staffs in the MLB, and they are going to have their ace on the mound in this one. Skubal is starting for them and he hasn't been giving up many runs in any of his starts this season. He is 5-2 with a 2.49 ERA and gave up no runs in his last start. The Tigers have also won 6 games in a row now with him starting. Wacha is on the mound for the Royals in this one and he has been good this season. He is 3-4 with a 3.21 ERA this season, but he did give up 4 earned runs in his last start and has been giving up some more runs in his starts lately. He has been a solid starter for them, especially at home, but the Tigers still have the better starter here along with the better bullpen and offense too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Tigers to win this game. 

Tigers Royals Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Saturday, May 31, 2025 (4:10 pm ET start time) is Tigers 3 Royals 1.

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Detroit Tigers: 204-183 (+38.7 units) on the moneyline in all games. 102-92 (+31.7 units) on the moneyline in road games. 54-23 (+20.8 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -125 to -175. 12-5 OVER on the road as a favorite of -150 or more.

Kansas City Royals: 174-212 (-11.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 33-73 (-11.5 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +150 or more. 126-163 (-10.2 units) on the moneyline vs. a team with a good bullpen whose WHIP is 1.350 or better. 20-11 OVER when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 62%).

Detroit Tigers:  M. Vierling (CF) Ten Day IL - Shoulder. R. Olson (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Finger. T. Madden (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. A. Cobb (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Hip. P. Meadows (CF) Sixty Day IL - Arm. J. Urquidy (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. S. Gipson-Long (SP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. A. Lange (RP) Sixty Day IL - Lat.

Kansas City Royals:  M. Massey (2B) Day To Day - Ankle. C. Ragans (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Groin. S. Lugo (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Finger. A. Marsh (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. J. McArthur (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. S. Long (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. H. Harvey (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. K. Wright (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder.

“Rodriguez is nasty. That’s a really good reliever with plus stuff all across the board. The human instinct is to try to do too much, especially given the lack of opportunity. But he has an uncanny ability to take a deep breath and stay in the zone.” - A.J. Hinch after his team’s win against the Giants in their game on Wednesday.

“He’s using all his pitches, he’s pitching in and out, changing speeds, confidently throwing strikes. A lot of soft contact. It’s a tremendous run. When he goes out there, it feels like he’s in command of what he’s doing.” - Matt Quatraro on Noah Cameron after his team’s win against the Reds in their game on Wednesday.

Kerry Carpenter (L) LF

Gleyber Torres (R) 2B

Colt Keith (L) 1B

Riley Greene (L) DH

Wenceel Pérez (S) CF

Justyn-Henry Malloy (R) RF

Zach McKinstry (L) 3B

Trey Sweeney (L) SS

Jake Rogers (R) C

Jonathan India (R) 2B

Bobby Witt Jr. (R) SS

Vinnie Pasquantino (L) 1B

Salvador Perez (R) C

Maikel Garcia (R) DH

Drew Waters (S) CF

Nick Loftin (R) 3B

John Rave (L) RF

Dairon Blanco (R) LF

Batting Average:  Brewer Hicklen (.667)

Hits:  Riley Greene (58)

Home Runs:  Spencer Torkelson (13)

RBI:  Spencer Torkelson (40)

Stolen Bases:  Gleyber Torres (4)

Wins:  Casey Mize (6)

Saves:  Tommy Kahnle (7)

ERA:  Tyler Owens (0.00)

Batting Average:  Luke Maile (.375)

Hits:  Bobby Witt (64)

Home Runs:  Vinnie Pasquantino (8)

RBI:  Vinnie Pasquantino (30)

Stolen Bases:  Bobby Witt (20)

Wins:  Kris Bubic (5)

Saves:  Carlos Estévez (15)

ERA:  Hunter Harvey (0.00)

Managers:

Detroit Tigers: A.J. Hinch (5th season)

Kansas City Royals: Matt Quatraro (3rd season)