This is the second game of a three-game series in Detroit between the Tigers and visiting Kansas City Royals.
Michael Wacha is scheduled to pitch for Kansas City, while Chris Paddack is slated to start for Detroit.
Royals at Tigers prediction, preview
Michael Wacha has been solid yet unspectacular. The ERA of 3.34 is supported by the 3.59 FIP. The strikeout rate is only 17.7%, but the walk rate is 6.3%, while he’s only allowed 12 home runs in 142.2 innings. The average exit velocity is only 87.3 mph, while the hard-hit rate is 33%. The swinging-strike rate is a respectable 10.3%.
Nine of the 12 home runs have come off the bat of righties. Eight of the 12 home runs have been served up on the road. The K-BB% is 6% lower on the road, while the FIP is over a run higher.
Wacha has allowed more than three earned runs in five of 25 starts. He’s gone at least six innings 11 times. He’s faced Detroit twice this season. The first start was in Detroit back in April. Wacha went 5.1 innings, did not walk a batter, struck out five, and allowed two earned runs on seven hits. The other meeting was at home on May 31st. He went seven innings, walked one, struck out six, and did not allow an earned run on one hit.
Against right-handed pitching, the Tigers have struck out at the third-highest rate while having the 10th-best ISO. Their wOBA is 15th-best in MLB.
Chris Paddack doesn’t walk many batters but has a strikeout rate of only 17.2%. He also gets hit hard. The average exit velocity is 90.4 mph, and the hard-hit rate is 44.9%. He’s allowed 23 home runs in 132.1 innings. The ERA is 5.10, while the FIP is 4.69.
Fourteen of the 23 home runs have come off the bat of lefties. Seventeen of the 23 home runs have been served up on the road.
Paddack has allowed more than three earned runs in eight of 25 starts. He’s given up at least eight earned runs in a start three times. This will be the first time facing Kansas City this season.
The Royals have struck out at the 29th-highest rate against left-handed pitching while ranking 18th in ISO. Their wOBA ranks 25th as well.
As for the bullpens, Kansas City has the 10th-lowest FIP, while Detroit has the 23rd-lowest.
Royals at Tigers pick, best bet
I like Wacha to continue pitching well, while Paddack gets shelled. Pasquantino into the cheap seats!
