MLB Baseball
2026-07-23 - Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Thursday 23rd July 2026 - Scheduled 6:40pm EST
11:40pm (British Time)
Preview
Once you move past the 100 game mark in the Major League regular season, every game feels like it matters that much more and especially at the end of July. The trade deadline is coming up in early August and so it feels important for teams to show they have what it takes to make the post-season or else the upper management decision makers may choose to ship away key assets in a bid to improve next season.
Over the last few weeks, the Detroit Tigers (48-54) have managed to get back in touch with the leaders in the American League Central, but there is still a 6.5 game gap to plug. They are also 4.5 games out of the Wild Card places in the American League and so this is a pivotal four game series coming up for the Tigers against the one team that is below them in the current Divisional standings.
The Kansas City Royals (43-60) are 12 games behind the American League Central leaders and have been a big disappointment in 2026, but they did win five of the last six games, including a sweep of the San Francisco Giants. Playing spoiler for others in the Division can be a motivational tool. but the Royals have a tough opener in this four game set.
Kansas City will hand the ball to Randy Dobnak who has a 0-0 record and 1.93 ERA in three appearances for the Royals after moving across from a Divisional rival in Minnesota. Only one of those has been in a start when Randy Dobnak gave up a single run in a little over 4 Innings thrown against the San Diego Padres, while he will be motivated to prove the Detroit Tigers wrong having pitched in the Minor League for the team without ever being called up to the main roster.
There will be pressure on Dobnak's shoulders as he will be going up against Troy Melton of the Detroit Tigers who has a 5-1 record and 1.80 ERA in nine starts this season.
The sophomore Major League pitcher had not given up a single run in two starts in July before the All Star Break and Troy Melton returned to pitch into the Sixth Inning and hold the Los Angeles Angels to a single run. Despite how own performances, Melton has not factored into the decision in two of the three July starts, but was given the decision win in the other one.
Troy Melton made a couple of relief appearances against the Kansas City Royals last season, but will be starting against them for the first time.
Detroit have won four of the six games played against the Kansas City Royals this season and will most definitely be targeting at least three wins in this four game set with the top of the rotation ready for action.
Prediction
If the Detroit batting lineup can pick up their level, this is a team with a starting pitching rotation that can lead them back into the Playoff.
The management team will want to see plenty of signs of that over the next four days with the trade deadline approaching and the fear of losing Tarik Skubal in Free Agency on the mind.
Troy Melton looks set to be the next big star in the pitching rotation and he can set the standard for this four game set against the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals will be confident that Randy Dobnak can keep them in the game early, but there is pressure on a relatively inexperienced pitcher to do that and the Detroit Tigers may be able to pull clear in this one.
The Pick :
Detroit Tigers 5-1 Kansas City Royals
