Tigers look to stop skid in matchup with the Royals

Detroit Tigers (18-21, second in the AL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (18-21, third in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Saturday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Tigers: Burch Smith (0-1, 1.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 16 strikeouts); Royals: Michael Wacha (3-2, 3.05 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 36 strikeouts)

LINE: Royals -135, Tigers +114; over/under is 9 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers look to end a four-game losing streak with a win over the Kansas City Royals.

Kansas City is 18-21 overall and 12-9 at home. The Royals have the 10th-ranked team on-base percentage in the AL at .320.

Detroit has an 18-21 record overall and a 6-15 record on the road. The Tigers have a 13-8 record in games when they record at least eight hits.

Saturday's game is the fifth time these teams square off this season. The Tigers are ahead 3-1 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bobby Witt Jr. has 11 doubles, a triple and four home runs for the Royals. Maikel Garcia is 11 for 41 with four doubles, a home run and five RBIs over the past 10 games.

Dillon Dingler has seven doubles, six home runs and 26 RBIs for the Tigers. Riley Greene is 12 for 36 with three doubles and a home run over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 6-4, .245 batting average, 3.84 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

Tigers: 3-7, .219 batting average, 3.72 ERA, outscored by five runs

INJURIES: Royals: Cole Ragans: 15-Day IL (elbow), Carlos Estevez: 15-Day IL (foot), Bailey Falter: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jonathan India: 10-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Tigers: Gleyber Torres: 10-Day IL (oblique), Will Vest: 15-Day IL (forearm), Tarik Skubal: 15-Day IL (elbow), Javier Baez: 10-Day IL (ankle), Casey Mize: 15-Day IL (groin), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (hip), Connor Seabold: 15-Day IL (ankle), Bailey Horn: 60-Day IL (elbow), Trey Sweeney: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Reese Olson: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Parker Meadows: 60-Day IL (head/arm), Jackson Jobe: 60-Day IL (elbow), Troy Melton: 60-Day IL (elbow), Beau Brieske: 60-Day IL (groin)

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