Game & Venue Details
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 30, 2025 – First Pitch 7:15 p.m. ET / 6:15 p.m. CT
- Venue: Kauffman Stadium, 1 Royal Way, Kansas City, MO 64129
- Surface: Natural grass
- Broadcast: FOX (national)
Weather Outlook
- First Pitch Forecast: ~78°F, partly cloudy, humidity ~58%, winds SSW 7–9 mph
- Impact: Slight breeze toward left-center could give a small boost to RH pull hitters; otherwise neutral hitting environment
Injury Report
Detroit Tigers
- Out: Matt Vierling (oblique, 10-day IL), Parker Meadows (quad, 10-day IL), Reese Olson (shoulder, 60-day IL), Paul Sewald (shoulder, 60-day IL), Sean Guenther (hip, 60-day IL), Jason Foley (shoulder, 60-day IL), Jackson Jobe (flexor strain, 60-day IL), Alex Cobb (hip, 60-day IL), Ty Madden (shoulder, 60-day IL), José Urquidy (Tommy John, 60-day IL)
- Impact: Bullpen depth compromised; missing two regular OFs
Kansas City Royals
- Out: Bailey Falter (biceps, 15-day IL), Hunter Harvey (abductor, 15-day IL), Steven Cruz (shoulder, 15-day IL), Kris Bubic (rotator cuff, 60-day IL), Jac Caglianone (hamstring, 10-day IL), Cole Ragans (rotator cuff, 60-day IL), James McArthur (elbow, 60-day IL), Alec Marsh (shoulder, 60-day IL)
- Impact: Rotation depth thin; bullpen missing multiple late-inning options
Projected Starting Pitchers
Key Player Matchups
- Riley Greene (DET) – .269 AVG, 32 HR, 101 RBI; batting .391 over last 7 days; 6 hits, 2 HR in last 4 vs. KC
- Gleyber Torres (DET) – .263 AVG, 14 HR, 70 BB; steady OBP threat in middle of order
- Spencer Torkelson (DET) – 28 HR; power bat with .500 SLG vs. RHP in August
- Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) – .297 AVG, 17-game hit streak; .364 AVG last 10 games
- Maikel Garcia (KC) – .297 AVG, 32 doubles; contact/speed threat at top of order
- Vinnie Pasquantino (KC) – 28 HR, 94 RBI; 5 HR in last 10 games
Recent Team Form
Tigers (Last 10): 6–4, 5.1 R/G, 3.84 ERA, Over in 6 of last 10
- Snapped 4-game skid with 5–3 win in opener; lead AL Central by 9.5 games
Royals (Last 10): 5–5, 5.1 R/G, 4.55 ERA, Over in 6 of last 10
- 3 GB in Wild Card race; 6–2 in last 8 home games
Series History
- 2025 Season: Tigers lead 8–3
- Recent: Tigers took 2 of 3 in Detroit (Aug. 22–24)
- All-Time: Tigers lead 405–402
- At Kauffman Stadium (since 2023): Tigers 8–4
Betting Trends
- Tigers: 62.5% win rate as favorite; Over in 60 of last 108 games (+13.0 units)
- Royals: 59.6% win rate as favorite; Over in 59 of 134 games this season
- Tigers 5–5 ATS last 10; Royals 4–6 ATS last 10
- Flaherty’s last 6 starts: all totals ≥ 9 runs
- Royals’ last 4 wins: all totals ≥ 9 runs
Suggested Wagering Model
Model Inputs:
- SP splits (Flaherty road ERA 6.08 vs. Kolek debut uncertainty)
- Team wRC+ vs. RHP (DET 107, KC 103)
- Bullpen ERA last 30 days (DET 3.74, KC 4.88)
- Park factor for doubles/triples (Kauffman boosts gap power)
- Recent scoring trends & player hot streaks
GAME ODDS
Detroit Tigers – 120
Kansas City Royals 9
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, August 29, 2025
