The set-up: The Kansas City Royals have gone 12-17 since the All Star break and now, at 57-60, sit 7 1/2 games back in the wild card race, with four teams ahead of them. It's all but certain KC will not make a third straight postseason trip, no less a return to the World Series in 2016. Meanwhile, the Tigers pulled out of a five-game skid over the weekend with back-to-back shutouts of the Texas Rangers on Saturday and Sunday. Detroit remains in the thick of the AL's wild card race at 63-54, currently 1 1/2 games out of the final spot.

The pitching matchup: Ian Kennedy (6-9, 3.91 ERA) takes the mound for KC and Daniel Norris (1-0, 4.00 ERA) will be handed the ball for Detroit. Kennedy signed a five-year, $70 million contract during the offseason as a free agent but as he gets set to make his 24th start of 2016, the Royals are 10-13 (minus-$308) in his first 23. Kennedy is 0-3 with a 4.34 ERA in five career starts vs. Detroit (teams are 0-5!), including two starts against them this season in which Kennedy has a loss and a no-decision (team is 0-2), despite allowing a combined three ERs. Daniel Norris will make his second start since returning from Triple-A. Norris went on the 15-day DL in early July with a right oblique strain and gave up one run and seven hits in five innings at Seattle on Tuesday. He was in line for a victory before the Mariners rallied for an extra-innings win.

The Royals have won six of their last eight but the Tigers are MLB's second-best moneyline team at plus-$1479, including $1051 at home where they are 33-21 and averaging 5.06 RPG. 8* play on the Tigers.