Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/30/2025

Game Time: 8:10 pm ET, Friday, May 30, 2025

Venue:  Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Where to Watch:  FDSKC

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Tigers -120, Royals +100; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Tigers -120, Royals +100; Over/Under:  8 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Tigers -120, Royals +100; Over/Under:  8 runs

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

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

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Jim Feist is on a HOT STREAK in the MLB on a 52-38-4 MLB RUN for +$10,170 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

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 series opener of a 3-game series with the Royals on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 9th in the MLB with a .733 OPS. Jackson Jobe was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Casey Mize is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 6-1 with a 2.45 ERA this season. His team won 4 of their last 5 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 ER, 1 HR, and 1 BB with 6 Ks on 4 hits through 5 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 1st game of a 3-game series with the Tigers on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 26th in the MLB with a .662 OPS. Rookie pitcher Noah Cameron was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Seth Lugo is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 3-4 with a 3.02 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 3 earned runs, 2 homers, and 0 BB with 5 strikeouts on 6 hits through 6 innings played against the Boston Red Sox.

The current betting odds have the Tigers listed as a slight 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. They just lost their last series against the Reds and their offense hasn't been putting up a ton of runs lately either. They are going to have Lugo on the mound here and he has been good this season as he is 3-4 with a 3.02 ERA, but he doesn't have the bullpen to back him like the Tigers do. The team has been having success with him on the mound lately, but he did give up 3 earned runs in his last start and even though that isn't a bad outing, that is too many runs against a team like the Tigers with the pitching staff they have. The Tigers are going with Mize in this one and he has been lights out this season. He is 6-1 with a 2.45 ERA and only gave up 1 earned run in his last start. The team has also won 4 of their last 5 games with him starting and they have one of the best bullpens in the MLB to come in after him too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Tigers to win this game. 

Tigers Royals Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, May 30, 2025 (8:10 pm ET start time) is Tigers 3 Royals 2.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks, best bets, and expert baseball picks today.  And if you enjoyed this Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily MLB projections and previews.

Detroit Tigers: 204-183 (+38.7 units) on the moneyline in all games. 102-92 (+31.7 units) on the moneyline in road games. 87-77 (+10.5 units) on the moneyline when the money line is +125 to -125. 19-12 OVER revenging a loss vs opponent as a home favorite.

Kansas City Royals: 174-212 (-11.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 72-84 (-11.5 units) on the moneyline when the money line is +125 to -125. 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)