Royals vs. Tigers Monday MLB probable pitchers, odds: Jordan Lyles +225 to earn first win of season in 15th start, avoid Kansas City infamy

It's Jordan Lyles Day! Any bettors who follow Major League Baseball know what we mean as Lyles, the most reliable money-losing (or winning, depending on your side) pitcher in the sport this year takes the mound for the Kansas City Royals as one of the majors' worst teams opens a series in Detroit. The Tigers are -145 at Caesars Sportsbook.

Bettors who have wagered $100 on the Royals to win each time Lyles took the mound this season, if there are any, would be down $1,400 – no other pitcher is even at -$900. On the runline, Kansas City is 2-12 in Lyles' 14 starts this year (losing by an average score of 6.64-3.79). Personally, he is 0-11 with a 6.89 ERA. His 14 starts without a win have tied Vida Blue (0-5 through 14 starts in 1983) for the most winless starts to begin a season in Royals history.

Lyles is +225 to record a win at DraftKings on Monday. The Tigers are nothing special at 30-40 overall and 15-18 at home. However, Lyles is 0-5 with a 9.10 ERA on the road. He is 1-2 with 3.45 ERA in 28.2 career innings vs. Detroit. Javier Baez is just 1-for-19 off Lyles with six strikeouts.

Kansas City is just 3-19-1 in series play this season and winless in the past nine. On Sunday, the Royals suffered their MLB-worst 25th blown lead loss of 2023. They have held a lead in 29 of their 42 games since the start of May, in which they're 12-30.

This will be only the eighth time Detroit has been a favorite this season, going 5-2 in the first seven. The Tigers won three of four at Minnesota over the weekend in a big surprise and won two of three against Kansas City in late May. Lyles didn't pitch in any of those games for the Royals, and neither did tonight's Tigers opener, rookie Reese Olson (0-2, 6.08). Olson hadn't been promoted to the majors yet.

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