Friday’s MLB slate is a thing of beauty with all 30 teams on the schedule and several very compelling matchups to enjoy. One of the early matchups of the night is a nice matchup in the AL Central between the Royals and the Tigers in Detroit, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. With so many ways to break down the matchup, here are a few of my best bets for Royals vs. Tigers on 4/18/25.
Every game of the season, DraftKings Sportsbook offers multiple ways to get in on the action with player props, Moneylines and picks against the spread from each MLB contest. You can also pick series winners, award winners and team futures as well, so be sure to check out all the options available on the MLB page of DK Sportsbook.
Here is a look at my best bets for Royals vs. Tigers on 4/18/25.
Best Bets for Royals vs. Tigers on 4/18/25 from DraftKings Sportsbook
Total Strikeouts Thrown over 16.5 (-115)
The pitching matchup in this game is a great one between Cole Ragans and Jackson Jobe. Ragans has posted double-digit strikeouts in each of his last three starts by himself and comes into this matchup in Detroit with a 12.9 K/9 on the year. He should more than hold up his half of this bargain, especially against the Tigers. Detroit has a 24% strikeout rate over the last week and a 25.7% strikeout rate against lefties this season, both ranked in the top 10 in the MLB.
On the other side, the Royals have been struggling at the plate overall this season and have a 25.2% strikeout rate over the last seven days. Jackson Jobe has been impressive in his three starts this year, with nine strikeouts in 15 innings.
In the first game of this series on Thursday, there were 13 strikeouts since Michael Lorenzen and Reese Olson aren’t typically strikeout pitchers. With Ragans and Jobe on the mound for this one, though, and both teams struggling, I expect this total to go over on Friday as one of my bets Royals Tigers bets.
Total Home Runs under 1.5 (-105)
The total home runs prop is another way to back the pitching in this game without picking an individual player prop. On Thursday, there were no homers and just three extra-base hits.
In the seven games at cavernous Comerica Park this season, the Tigers have hit 10 home runs and allowed just one. The Royals have hit an MLB-low 10 home runs in their 20 games this season.
While the Royals don’t bring much power, Ragans should keep the Tigers in check. He has allowed only one run in 23 2/3 innings this season and gave up 22 home runs in 61 games over the last two seasons for a 0.7 HR/9 rate.
While the game is expected to be warmer, the wind is still forecast to be blowing in from right field at 13 mph. It’s not going to be a great environment for home runs, and I like this under since you get one “free” home run and can still get the win.
Spencer Torkelson Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI (+120)
Torkelson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft but he had struggled in his time in the majors until finding a great groove this season. In fact, the Tigers signed Gleyber Torres and were moving Colt Keith to 1B, leaving Torkelson without a clear path to playing time.
The 25-year-old wouldn’t let that happen, though, and put together a huge spring training, hitting .340 with five homers and a .451 wOBA. With Torres on the IL, Torkelson had an everyday role at 1B for most of the season. Since Torres returned, he has also played DH.
He has gone 20-for-70 (.286) with six home runs, 15 runs scored and 16 RBI. That means he has 51 hits, runs, and RBI in 19 games for an average of 2.68 per game. Torkelson has gone over this total in six of his last nine games, including the first game of this series, when he went 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI.
Torkelson has always hit lefties slightly better than righties and is .280 against them this year with three homers and a .434 wOBA. He has also been excellent at home, hitting .333 with six runs scored and eight RBI in Detroit.
While it’s a tough matchup against Ragans, Torkelson should still be able to go over this total of hits, runs and RBI, and getting this prop at +120 makes it one of my favorite Royals Tigers bets on Friday night.
