Keider Montero owns a 6.38 ERA overall and has allowed 17 hard-hit balls in his last two starts alone. The Royals counter with Seth Lugo (12-5, 2.66 ERA). He'll face a depleted Tigers lineup missing Riley Greene. Back K.C. to lead after five innings.

In some ways this feels a tad trappish for the Royals, but the Tigers have basically quit and Kansas City really can't afford to let up battling for a WC spot -- and this ML price also seems a shade light. We already played O17.5 outs for KC starter Seth Lugo, who is 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA on the road. Tigers rookie Keider Montero is 0-3 with a 6.84 ERA at home. I'd probably play -1 cheaper and be fine with a push -- but that's not available as of now. Definitely not playing -1.5.

This is the only 17.5 on our board and it may well flip. Kansas City's Seth Lugo has gone at least six in 11 of his past 12 outings and the Tigers are obviously a punchless bunch. In Lugo's lone start against them this year, which also was in Detroit on April 26, he threw seven shutout innings. The SL Model has him at 6.7 IP here. But weird things sure happen -- just ask Taj Bradley on Wednesday. That was one of the most puzzling starts of the year.

That brief surge by the Tigers in earlier July had fizzled by the time the month came to a close, as Detroit enters August having lost three straight and six of eight. The Tigers didn't do any serious adding at the deadline, as we suspect Detroit could sag from now until the end of September. It doesn't help to start Keider Montero, who might be one more bad effort from being demoted (we think) after posting an 8.81 ERA across his last three starts. Though the Royals might miss the Chisox, victimized six time since the All-Star break, expect Seth Lugo (12-5, 2.66 ERA) to bounce back from a rare poor start last Friday vs. the Cubs. Play Royals on Run Line

The Tigers are pretty toothless these days, subtracting some talent and scuffling with top plyer Riley Greene injured. Runs the last 8 G: 0, 4, 4, 7, 3, 3, 1, 4. KC is 4-2 vs DET with a 40-19 RD. Royals sures up biggest weakness on back end at deadline. KC is 8-3 in Seth Lugo's road starts; he has a 2.51 road ERA allowing a .602 OPS. Scuffled some lately but went 7 strong vs DET early this season. Tigers rotation depleted these days, too. Keider Montero likely starter is very hit or miss