He's only made three starts, but the Royals' Daniel Lynch is laying claim to being the worst starter in the American League if not all of baseball.

Lynch is 0-2 with a 15.75 ERA! The lefty doesn't even have the element of surprise going for him. The Tigers saw him earlier this season for 2 2/3 innings and reached him for four runs, three of which were earned.

The Tigers were riding a season-best seven-game win streak before losing the first two games of this series. Detroit blew a 6-0 lead in losing by a run to the Royals on Saturday.

So the frustrated Tigers should be focused. Detroit doesn't get much respect from the oddsmaker, but the Tigers have won six more games than the Royals.

Detroit has some decent below-the-radar pitchers. Southpaw Tarik Skubal is one such starter. He's held the opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 starts. He ranks 16th in the American League in strikeouts. Skubal is at his best in day games, too, with a 4-1 record and 3.15 ERA. The Tigers have a rested closer in Gregory Soto. He's better than any of Kansas City's relievers.

The Tigers have a winning record versus lefty starters, while the Royals are below .500 when facing southpaw starters.