Tigers vs. Royals Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 9/3/2022

The Detroit Tigers (50-81) will take on the Kansas City Royals (53-79) on Saturday at 6:10 PM ET. Hunter Dozier will be looking for his 98th hit of the season for the underdog Royals (-107) when the game gets underway at Comerica Park. Detroit’s Michael Pineda and Kansas City’s Jonathan Heasley have been named the starters for this contest.

Tigers vs. Royals Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Tigers vs. Royals

We have the Royals on the moneyline at -107 on the moneyline as our best bet in this game after looking at all of the key trends and statistics for this matchup. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going over the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Kansas City Royals (-107) and Over (8)

Tigers vs. Royals Game Info

• Detroit Tigers probable starting pitcher: Michael Pineda
• Kansas City Royals probable starting pitcher: Jonathan Heasley
• Game Day: Saturday, September 3, 2022
• Game Time: 6:10 PM ET
• Location: Detroit, Michigan
• Stadium: Comerica Park

Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals Pitching Matchup

Tigers Starter Michael Pineda

• The Tigers are sending Pineda (2-6) to make his 11th start of the season. He is 2-6 with a 5.27 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings pitched.
• In his most recent appearance on Saturday, July 23, the right-hander threw three innings against the Minnesota Twins, allowing two earned runs while surrendering four hits.
• In 10 games this season, the 33-year-old has amassed a 5.27 ERA and 4.9 strikeouts per nine innings, while giving up a batting average of .301 to opposing batters.
• Pineda has one quality start under his belt this season.
• Pineda will try to record his seventh matchup of five or more innings pitched this season. He averages 4.1 innings per appearance.
• He will take the mound against a Royals offense that ranks 14th in MLB with 1089 total hits (on a .244 batting average). The squad also slugs a collective .379 (24th in MLB) with 113 total home runs (26th in MLB).
• In 10 1/3 innings over two appearances against the Royals this season, Pineda has a 4.35 ERA and a 1.355 WHIP while his opponents are hitting .318.

Royals Starter Jonathan Heasley

• Jon Heasley (2-7) will take the mound for the Royals, his 16th start of the season.
• The right-hander’s last appearance was on Sunday, when he threw five innings against the San Diego Padres, giving up three earned runs while allowing four hits.
• The 25-year-old has an ERA of 5.22, a 1.571 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.542 in 15 games this season.
• In 15 starts this season, he’s earned a quality start in four of them.
• Heasley has nine starts of five or more innings this season in 15 chances. He averages 4.2 innings per outing.
• The Tigers rank 26th in MLB with a .229 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks 30th in the league (.336) and 78 home runs.

Tigers Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Tigers have been favored 20 times and won nine, or 45%, of those games.
• Detroit has entered 20 games this season favored by -112 or more and is 8-11-1 in those contests.
• The Tigers have a 52.8% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Detroit’s games have gone over the total in 46 of their 133 chances.
• The Tigers are 60-73-0 ATS in their 133 games with a spread this season.

Royals Betting Picks & Insights

• The Royals have come away with 44 wins in the 113 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
• Kansas City has a mark of 43-69 in contests where sportsbooks favor them by -107 or worse on the moneyline.
• Sportsbooks have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Royals have a 51.7% chance of pulling out a win.
• Kansas City and their opponents have hit the over in 65 of their 136 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
• The Royals have posted a record of 65-71-0 against the spread this season.

Tigers Leaders & Batting Stats

• Javier Baez leads the Tigers with 12 home runs and 49 runs batted in, while racking up a team-high batting average of .224.
• In all of Major League Baseball, Baez ranks 119th in homers and 107th in RBI.
• Baez carries a three-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .222 with a home run, two walks and two RBI.
• Harold Castro has 19 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 14 walks while hitting .281.
• Castro has two straight games with at least one hit. In his last five games he is batting .222 with a double and six RBI.
• Jeimer Candelario has launched a team-best 12 home runs.
• Willi Castro is batting .247 with 16 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 14 walks.

Royals Leaders & Batting Stats

• Bobby Witt Jr. leads the squad with a batting average of .248, and leads the Royals in home runs, with 19 and runs batted in with 66.
• Among all hitters in MLB, Witt Jr.’s home run total ranks 45th and his RBI tally is 40th.
• Salvador Perez has put his power on display as he paces his team with 19 home runs.
• Perez is currently 45th in homers and 49th in RBI in the major leagues.
• MJ Melendez is hitting .221 with 15 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 50 walks.
• Dozier is hitting .242 with 23 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 31 walks.