By the Associated Press
The Kansas City Royals take on the Detroit Tigers after Bobby Witt Jr. had four hits against the Guardians on Thursday.
Detroit Tigers (18-20, second in the AL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (17-21, fourth in the AL Central)
Kansas City, Missouri; Friday, 7:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Tigers: Keider Montero (2-2, 3.48 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 25 strikeouts); Royals: Kris Bubic (3-1, 3.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 42 strikeouts)
LINE: Royals -144, Tigers +120; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals play the Detroit Tigers after Bobby Witt Jr. had four hits against the Guardians on Thursday.
Kansas City has an 11-9 record at home and a 17-21 record overall. The Royals have a 3-5 record in games decided by one run.
Detroit has gone 6-14 in road games and 18-20 overall. The Tigers have the fifth-ranked team on-base percentage in the AL at .326.
The teams match up Friday for the fourth time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Vinnie Pasquantino has four doubles, two triples, five home runs and 19 RBIs for the Royals. Witt is 13 for 42 with a double and three home runs over the last 10 games.
Dillon Dingler has seven doubles, six home runs and 26 RBIs for the Tigers. Spencer Torkelson is 7 for 36 with two doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 6-4, .243 batting average, 3.60 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs
Tigers: 4-6, .228 batting average, 3.58 ERA, outscored opponents by one run
INJURIES: Royals: Cole Ragans: day-to-day (tricep/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)