Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals Prediction – 8/31/2025
The Detroit Tigers will visit the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers come into this game with a starting pitching advantage thanks to the presence of Tarik Skubal. But the Royals have a strong starting pitcher on the mound as well and that could make things very interesting in Kansas City today. Before this game begins, continue reading to get my Tigers vs Royals prediction.
Our Tigers vs Royals Pick
- Pick: Under 7.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals
- Date & Time: Sunday, August 31, 2025, 2:10 PM ET
- Starting Pitchers: Tarik Skubal vs Michael Wacha
- Stadium: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
- Broadcast: MLB.tv
Key Storylines
Pitching Matchup
Tarik Skubal owns an 11-4 record with a 2.28 ERA and 212 strikeouts through 166 innings this season. Those strikeout numbers and a sub-1.00 WHIP mean the Tigers get elite control out of the reigning AL Cy Young winner. Michael Wacha has been solid for the Royals this season with an 8-10 record and a 3.39 ER. Skubal is always going to be the best pitcher in any matchup but this is a competitive starting pitching matchup.
Key Players
- Bobby Witt Jr. put the Royals ahead for good on Saturday when he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. He will be important again for the Royals.
- Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson provide the power for the Tigers and they will need to step up after a poor offensive showing from Detroit yesterday.
Recent Team Streaks
The Tigers have lost four of their last five games and they are struggling despite having a big lead in the AL Central standings. Kansas City has won three of its last four games and will look to win this series by winning today’s rubber match over Detroit.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Riley Greene | Under 1.5 Total Bases |
| Tarik Skubal | Over 6.5 Strikeouts |
| Michael Wacha | Over 5.5 Strikeouts |
Betting Trends & H2H
- Detroit holds an 8-4 lead in the season series between these AL Central rivals.
- The Tigers and Royals will play for the final time in the 2025 regular season today.
- Detroit is 35-33 on the road for the season.
- Kansas City is 37-31 at home on the year.
Tigers vs Royals Model Projection
Score Projection: Detroit Tigers 4 – Kansas City Royals 3
Win Probability: Detroit Tigers 62%, Kansas City Royals 38%
Final Thoughts
We should be in for a close game no matter which of these teams ends up getting the victory. Both starting pitchers in this game have very good stuff and that should lead to a suspenseful and low-scoring contest. I think that the under is a better wager than taking either side, as we should see a good game from both Skubal and Wacha.
