Kansas City @ Detroit picks

Entering this four-game set, it’s the Detroit Tigers who have the edge in the standings, sitting atop the AL Central with an 10-8 record while the Kansas City Royals are in third place at 8-11. And with the Royals on the road, it’s no surprise that they are underdogs for tonight’s series opener. But I think there is some value in the road dogs tonight. Reese Olson made three starts against the Royals last season. He gave up six earned runs on 12 hits and five walks over 12 innings. And current KC hitters have combined for a .300 xBA and a .530 xSLG vs. Olson. Countering Olson is Michael Lorenzen. It has admittedly been a mediocre start for the Royals’ right-hander, posting a 4.04 xERA through four starts. However, he’s had a solid amount of success against the Tigers. I like the Royals to jump on Olson early and strike first in this series, so I’ll happily take them on the moneyline at this price.