Kansas City at Detroit

Kansas City has fallen apart, on a 4-9 run. There have been ugly losses during this slump of 5-1, 8-3, 8-2 and 14-8. The Royals traded for former ace Johnny Cueto (9-12) but he has been a bust in the American League for his new team. Cueto fell to 0-5 with a 9.57 ERA in his last five starts on Sunday after getting drilled for eight runs on 11 hits, including four homers, in an 8-2 loss to Baltimore. He has been taken deep eight times during his losing skid. Cueto is 0-4 on the road and the Royals are 1-7 against a team with a losing record. Cueto has faced Detroit this season and gave up four runs on nine hits in six innings of a 6-5 loss to the Tigers on September 1. Detroit has won three of four, including a 7-4 win at Minnesota the last game. The Tigers have plenty of offensive punch, ranking #13 in runs scored and fourth in on-base percentage and slugging. Tigers starter Justin Verlander is 20-8 in his career against Kansas City and beat them three weeks ago. Verlander has kept the ball in the park of late, surrendering just one homer in his last seven starts. The Tigers are 35-17 when Verlander starts at home against a team with a winning record, so look for a one-sided win by the home team. Play Detroit to win by two.