Tigers play the Royals leading series 2-1

Jul 26, 2026, 04:03 am

Kansas City Royals (44-62, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Detroit Tigers (50-55, fourth in the AL Central)

Detroit; Sunday, 1:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Luinder Avila (5-3, 4.86 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 57 strikeouts); Tigers: Framber Valdez (5-7, 4.57 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 88 strikeouts)

LINE: Tigers -194, Royals +157; over/under is 9 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers play the Kansas City Royals, leading the series 2-1.

Detroit has a 29-24 record in home games and a 50-55 record overall. Tigers pitchers have a collective 3.61 ERA, which ranks fifth in MLB play.

Kansas City is 44-62 overall and 18-35 in road games. The Royals are 24-52 in games when they have allowed a home run.

The matchup Sunday is the 10th time these teams meet this season. The Tigers hold a 6-3 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kevin McGonigle has 20 doubles, three triples and nine home runs for the Tigers. Hao-Yu Lee is 13 for 34 with three doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.

Carter Jensen has 14 home runs, 35 walks and 52 RBI while hitting .241 for the Royals. Michael Massey is 11 for 34 with three doubles and three RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 6-4, .223 batting average, 3.34 ERA, even run differential

Royals: 6-4, .251 batting average, 4.50 ERA, outscored by 15 runs

INJURIES: Tigers: Parker Meadows: 60-Day IL (head/arm), Javier Baez: 60-Day IL (ankle), Brant Hurter: 60-Day IL (back), Jack Flaherty: 15-Day IL (flexor), Burch Smith: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Will Vest: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bailey Horn: 60-Day IL (elbow), Justin Verlander: 60-Day IL (hip), Wenceel Perez: 60-Day IL (face), Trey Sweeney: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Reese Olson: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jackson Jobe: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Royals: Carlos Estevez: 60-Day IL (foot), Kyle Isbel: 10-Day IL (foot), Stephen Kolek: 60-Day IL (flexor), Bobby Witt Jr.: 10-Day IL (back), Maikel Garcia: 10-Day IL (hand), Nick Mears: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (elbow), Connor Seabold: 15-Day IL (lat), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jonathan India: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.