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Royals series preview: Detroit Tigers

Again?

By Josh Duggan

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MLB: Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals
Probably still a Tiger
Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The Royals just played host to the Tigers for a four-game series at this point last week, and now they go to Detroit to play another three upon having completed a sweep of the White Sox at home. Riding a five-game winning streak that has effectively rid them of the acrid stench of the preceding 1-7 stretch of baseball the Royals played, the Royals are again hot, and they face a club that’s shipping off pieces to the highest bidder.

These are the game times and pitching matchups:

  • Monday, July 24, 6:10 PM CDT - Jason Hammel versus Justin Verlander
  • Tuesday, July 25, 6:10 PM CDT - Danny Duffy (L) versus Michael Fulmer
  • Wednesday, July 26, 6:10 PM CDT - Ian Kennedy versus Anibal Sanchez

Royals at Tigers pitching matchups

Pitcher G IP K K% BB BB% ERA FIP xFIP SIERA fWAR rWAR
Pitcher G IP K K% BB BB% ERA FIP xFIP SIERA fWAR rWAR
Jason Hammel 19 106.2 83 17.4 35 7.3 4.81 4.45 5.25 4.89 1.2 1.0
Justin Verlander 20 117.0 111 21.5 55 10.6 4.54 4.27 4.87 4.79 1.7 1.3
Danny Duffy (L) 15 94.2 75 19.3 27 6.9 3.71 3.51 4.56 4.55 2.1 2.4
Michael Fulmer 19 126.1 89 17.4 28 5.5 3.35 3.35 4.17 4.36 3.2 2.7
Ian Kennedy 18 97.2 86 21.3 39 9.7 4.61 5.18 5.04 4.70 0.3 1.0
Anibal Sanchez 17 56.0 52 20.8 16 6.4 5.95 5.33 4.66 4.23 0.2 -0.7

The Royals faced Justin Verlander and Michael Fulmer last week. Verlander pitched all right on Wednesday but left with the Royals up 2-1 after seven. Fulmer suffered through the worst start of his young career as the Royals (and the defense behind him) chased him after 2.2 brutal innings. Anibal Sanchez has been pretty bad this year, pitching both out of the pen and in the rotation. His strikeout and walk rates have been respectable, but his 62.3 LOB% and 17.6 HR/FB% have been his undoing. Yielding a 38.5 Hard% isn’t helping things either.

Detroit Tigers position players

Player Pos PA HR R RBI SB AVG OBP SLG wOBA wRC+ fWAR rWAR
Player Pos PA HR R RBI SB AVG OBP SLG wOBA wRC+ fWAR rWAR
Justin Upton LF 370 16 58 60 8 .277 .365 .505 .369 132 2.9 3.8
Alex Avila (L) C/1B 251 11 29 30 0 .282 .406 .495 .386 143 2.1 2.4
Ian Kinsler 2B 354 9 55 26 7 .241 .325 .394 .314 94 2.0 1.9
José Iglesias SS 307 2 38 28 6 .259 .289 .348 .276 68 1.0 1.9
Nicholas Castellanos 3B 400 14 49 54 2 .251 .315 .459 .328 103 0.9 0.9
James McCann C 188 9 19 26 0 .213 .294 .421 .305 88 0.8 0.7
Miguel Cabrera 1B 348 12 35 47 0 .261 .351 .429 .333 107 0.7 0.3
Mikie Mahtook CF 169 6 18 21 1 .388 .308 .472 .328 104 0.6 0.0
Alex Presley RF 93 1 12 10 3 329 .380 .435 .355 122 0.3 0.4
Dixon Machado IF 81 1 9 7 0 .316 .338 .395 .316 95 -0.2 -0.2
Víctor Martínez (S) DH 324 8 32 41 0 .262 .333 .386 .311 92 -0.5 0.0
Andrew Romine (S) Util 212 4 32 18 5 .219 .286 .349 .278 69 -0.5 -0.4

There’s not much to say about these guys that wasn’t said last Monday. Not much has changed.

Poll

How will the Royals fare in Detroit?

This poll is closed

  • 13%
    Royals sweep
    (53 votes)
  • 69%
    Royals take two of three
    (267 votes)
  • 13%
    Tigers take two of three
    (52 votes)
  • 2%
    Tigers sweep
    (10 votes)
382 votes total Vote Now

All stats courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball Reference through action on Saturday, July 22.

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