The Royals are using their home field domination to stay in the race in the AL Central. Kansas City bumped off the Indians three straight times to tie the Tribe at the top of the standings, winning for the ninth straight time at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals will attempt to keep the Tigers below them in the division by improving the majors’ best home record.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
After a hard fought sweep of the Indians to grab a share of first place, the Royals will see no letup in the tight American League Central. They’ll move from one divisional foe to another when they host the Tigers in a four-game weekend set.
Wednesday’s victory over Cleveland was Kansas City’s ninth straight at Kauffman Stadium, which only underscored the whacky nature of the last 20 days. In the span of less than three weeks, The Royals won six straight at home, lost eight-straight during a mind-boggling road trip, and then ripped off another five straight victories, including three at home over the Tribe. The only constant in a season of streaks: The Royals have been a juggernaut at home going 22-7 in their first 29, the best home mark in baseball. That also translates at the betting window, where K.C. is in the black 14.97 units.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Matt Boyd (0-1, 4.91 ERA) is still looking to establish himself in the Tigers’ rotation after going 4.1 innings and giving up six earned runs against the White Sox in his last outing. He was touched for seven hits and a couple of home runs while walking two and taking a no-decision. Boyd was spotted a 7-0 lead after Detroit hammered James Shields, but the lefty was unable to get through five frames and missed out on his first victory of the year. Detroit squandered its big lead and lost the game in extra innings.
In two career starts at Kauffman Stadium, Boyd has been clobbered by the Royals, who torched him for 16 hits and nine runs in 6.1 innings of work. Over two road starts this year, Boyd has given up nine runs and 13 hits, including four homers, in 9.1 innings.
Edinson Volquez (6-6, 3.90 ERA) struggled with his control to start his last outing, walking the bases loaded in the first inning against the Indians. However, he escaped the inning and settled down to pitch seven scoreless frames. He issued one free pass over the next six innings and struck out three while allowing just two hits. It was a nice effort after allowing nine runs over 11 innings of his previous two outings.
The veteran right-hander tossed seven shutout innings at the Tigers on Apr. 21 to lead the Royals to a 4-0 home victory. Volquez allowed just five hits and fanned five in that outing. He’s been a terror at Kauffman Stadium this year, pitching to a 2.06 ERA and a 4-2 record across 52.1 innings of his eight starts.
LIVE BETTING
Salvador Perez is on a roll, and so are the Royals. On Wednesday night, the All-Star catcher launched a three-run home run during a decisive four-run fifth inning, helping Kansas City to a sweep of the Indians and its fifth straight win with 9-4 verdict. One night earlier, Perez delivered a go-ahead blast in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Perez now has a seven-game hitting streak and he is 13 for 28 in that stretch. He also has four homers in his last six games and is batting .410 over his last 61 at-bats. Perez has 11 home runs and 32 RBIs for the year. He also has 26 extra-base hits, putting him on pace to blow past his career-high of 47. Perez had five hits, including a pair of homers, in 11 at-bats when the Royals took two of three from the Tigers back in April.
QUICK PICK
The Royals are streaking upward and their play at home has been exceptional. It’s a bad combination for the visiting Tigers. After dropping the first eight games on a recent unproductive road trip, Kansas City salvaged the journey by winning the final two. That started a win streak where the Royals knocked off the Indians to reclaim a share of the division lead.
Kansas City is the best in the majors at home and they have an advantage on the hill in this one. Volquez got through a rocky first inning on Monday and settled down to toss doughnuts at the Indians for seven frames. Once he got through that first, he seemed to find the groove that’s made him dominant at home. Boyd probably wouldn’t be too upset if he skipped his start. Pitching in Kauffman Stadium hasn’t been kind and the Royals are rolling.
MLB Odds: Kansas City 6, Detroit 3
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