Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers Picks and Predictions May 31st 2025

Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers May 31st 2025

The Tigers head to Kauffman Stadium to face the Royals on Saturday, May 31, 2025. This afternoon game is set to begin at 4:10 PM. Fans will be watching closely as the teams compete under the sun.

Tarik Skubal takes the mound for the Tigers with an impressive ERA of 2.49 and a WHIP of 0.84. The Royals counter with Michael Wacha, who holds a 3.21 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Both pitchers aim to lead their teams to victory.

Tigers vs Royals Key Information

• Sport: Baseball
• Teams: Tigers vs. Royals
• Venue: Kauffman Stadium
• Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
• Betting Odds: Tigers -1.5 (-102), Royals +1.5 (-120), Tigers MoneyLine -178, Royals MoneyLine +148, Over/Under 7.5

The Tigers Can Win If…

The Detroit Tigers are coming off a 7-5 win against the Kansas City Royals. Dillon Dingler led the charge with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, including a home run and three RBIs. Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene also contributed with home runs, adding to the team’s strong offensive showing.

The Tigers have a solid batting average of .252, ranking them eighth in the league. Their on-base percentage is also strong at .325, placing them eighth as well. With 65 home runs, they are ninth in the league, showing they can score runs in bunches.

Tarik Skubal will start on the mound, bringing a stellar ERA of 2.49 and a WHIP of 0.84. The Tigers’ pitching staff has a team ERA of 3.24, ranking fifth in the league. With a batting average against of .226, they have shown they can limit opponents’ scoring opportunities.

The Royals Can Win If…

The Kansas City Royals are looking to bounce back after a close 7-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Despite the loss, the Royals showed strong hitting, with Maikel Garcia going 3 for 4 and Bobby Witt Jr. hitting a home run. Drew Waters also contributed with three RBIs, showing the depth in the Royals’ lineup.

The Royals have a solid team batting average of .246, ranking them 12th, and they are 7th in doubles with 97. Their ability to get on base and hit for extra bases gives them an edge. With 47 stolen bases, they are also 10th in the league, adding speed to their offensive strategy.

On the mound, the Royals will start Michael Wacha, who has a 3.21 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. The Royals’ pitching staff has a team ERA of 3.15, ranking 2nd in the league. Their pitchers have also achieved 28 quality starts, which is 3rd best, showing their ability to keep games close and give the offense a chance to win.

The Lean

The Tigers are favored with a moneyline of -178 against the Royals at +148. Given the Tigers’ strong pitching stats, including a 3.24 ERA and .226 batting average against, they are likely to win. The model projects the Tigers to win 4-3, making the Tigers a solid pick for the moneyline.

The over/under line is set at 7.5. Both teams have strong pitching, with the Royals holding a 3.15 ERA. The model projects a total score of 7, suggesting the under is the better choice. The Tigers’ and Royals’ pitching should keep the game low-scoring.

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Tigers Rely on Skubal to Extend Streak

The Detroit Tigers have found their rhythm behind ace Tarik Skubal, and they’ll try to keep that momentum rolling on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. Since Detroit’s 4-3, 10-inning loss to Kansas City on April 20, a game started by Skubal, the Tigers have not lost a contest with him on the mound.

Skubal enters this rematch on a tear, having gone 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA over his last six starts—all resulting in Detroit victories. The Tigers are now eyeing a sixth straight win overall, a potential season high.

Skubal’s Complete-Game Gem Raises the Bar

In his last outing, Skubal delivered one of the most dominant performances of the MLB season. He pitched a two-hit, complete-game shutout in a 5-0 win over Cleveland, striking out 13 without issuing a walk. His final pitch, a 102.6 mph fastball that struck out Gabriel Arias, set a new Statcast-era record for the hardest pitch thrown by a Tigers pitcher.

No MLB starter has thrown a pitch of 102 mph or more later than the sixth inning since Statcast tracking began in 2015, making Skubal’s feat even more remarkable. According to Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, “When he’s got full intensity and full throttle, the sky’s the limit.”

Skubal has now completed at least six innings in seven of his 11 starts this season. Though he has a 4.76 ERA in 14 career starts against Kansas City, the reigning AL Cy Young winner is clearly pitching at a different level in 2025.

Explore more MLB betting insights on Skubal and the Tigers at the expert MLB betting guide.

Royals Look to Regroup

The Royals, after a red-hot 16-2 run, have dropped 12 of their last 18 games. Friday’s 7-5 series-opening loss was another missed opportunity, as Kansas City went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Bobby Witt Jr. hit a home run, but the Royals lacked the timely hitting to capitalize on scoring chances.

Witt has struggled against Skubal in his career, going just 4-for-27. However, Salvador Perez has been a consistent thorn in Skubal’s side, posting a .333 average (11-for-33) with four home runs.

Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro emphasized the importance of execution, saying, “The only way to cash in on opportunities is to give yourself opportunities. Just didn’t get the game-changing hit.”

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Wacha Aims to Match Skubal

Scheduled Royals starter Michael Wacha will also be facing Detroit for the second time this season. In their previous meeting, he allowed two runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. Wacha then rolled through a six-start stretch with a 3-1 record and 2.00 ERA before faltering in his most recent outing against the Twins.

He pitched four scoreless innings before giving up four runs in a span of two innings, ending his day with a no-decision in a 5-4 walk-off loss.

Wacha’s historical matchups with Detroit hitters show mixed results. Spencer Torkelson is 1-for-9 against him, but Javier Baez is 9-for-31 and Colt Keith is 5-for-11.

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Handicapper’s Spotlight

As this matchup heats up, so does the action in the betting world. On the best MLB handicappers leaderboard, several experts are tracking Skubal closely. His dominance on the mound has made Tigers games a focus point for sharp bettors. Bettors looking to ride the hot hand or identify value in underdog spots are watching this series closely.

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