ADVANCE / SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026

Royals host Tigers as both teams seek traction at .500

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — The Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers, two clubs deadlocked at 18-21, meet Saturday at Kauffman Stadium in the middle game of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies with a temperature of 63 degrees.

Right-hander Michael Wacha (3-2, 4.08 ERA) is scheduled to start for Detroit. He will oppose a Royals lineup that edged the Tigers 4-3 on Friday night in the series opener.

Kansas City enters as a slight favorite, with oddsmakers listing the Royals at -1.5 on the run line and an over/under of 9 runs. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-4 Royals victory. The ELO model gives Kansas City a 51.9 percent probability to win.

Friday’s win snapped a two-game losing streak for Kansas City, which dropped three of four to Cleveland earlier in the week. The Royals got strong relief work from Kris Bubic, who earned the win. Jac Caglianone drove in a run and Maikel Garcia added a hit and an RBI.

Detroit had lost four straight before Friday — three to Boston and its series opener here — and has fallen in six of its last 10 games overall. The Tigers’ offense managed three runs on six hits Friday, but Wacha will look to reverse that trend. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in four of his seven starts this season.

The Tigers got contributions Friday from Wenceel Pérez, who started in right field and moved to center during the game, and catcher Dillon Dingler, who singled. Keider Montero pitched in relief.

The season series is now knotted at 2-2 after Kansas City’s win Friday. Detroit took two of three in a series in mid-April in Detroit, winning 2-1 on Wednesday, April 15 and 2-1 on Tuesday, April 14 before the Royals claimed a 10-9 slugfest on Thursday, April 16.

After Saturday’s game, the teams conclude the series Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. Detroit then travels to New York for a three-game set against the Mets beginning Tuesday. Kansas City heads to Chicago for a three-game series against the White Sox, also starting Tuesday.