Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, Odds and Picks for Friday, 05/08/26

The Royals have revenge on their minds when they host the Tigers on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. These teams met a few weeks ago in Detroit, and the Tigers swept the Royals in a 3-game series. However, things have gone downhill for AJ Hinch’s squad since then. The Tigers are just 8-11 since that series concluded on April 16, and the pitching staff continues to get decimated by injuries. Keider Montero is slated to get the start in this one, and given the rate at which Detroit’s bullpen has been taxed lately, he may be asked to eat up some innings even if he is not on his A-game. The Tigers are also just 6-14 SU through their first 20 road games of the season.

On the other side, the Royals are starting to figure some things out after a slow start out of the gate. Kansas City was in the midst of an 8-game losing streak when they were swept by the Tigers in Detroit last month, but they have gotten back on track. Since that losing streak was snapped on April 21, the Royals own a solid record of 10-5. They are 5-2 in the 7 starts that Kris Bubic has made this season, which includes finding the win column in each of his last 3 starts. The 28-year-old left-hander is holding opponents to a lowly .159 batting average at home this season, so the Tigers could have their hands full at the plate. Playing at home, the Royals are the team to back in this AL Central matchup.

Tigers vs Royals prediction: Kansas City Royals ML (-140) available at time of publishing. Playable to -145.

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