The set-up: Kansas City had its elimination number reduced to one with an 11-3 loss at the New York Yankees on Monday afternoon. The Royals are approaching the end of an era with franchise cornerstones Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar all set to reach free agency at the end of the season. "You're definitely aware of the possibility that could happen," Royals manager Ned Yost told reporters of all four players leaving after the season. "These guys have been going so hard this year and they're all beat down. You would really like to just give them a couple days off, but it's hard to do because our fans are going to want to see them." KC will finish the season with a six-game homestand, beginning tonight with the opener of a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers. Detroit enters on a seven-game losing streak (longest current one in MLB) and with an overall record of 62-94, a half-game better than the Phillies and Giants, as those three are in a race to the bottom for MLB's worst record in 2017. The Tigers are headed toward their worst record since the 2003 squad lost 119 games and Monday it was revealed that Miguel Cabrera is dealing with two herniated discs in his back and could miss the rest of the season.

The pitching matchup: Anibal Sanchez (3-5 & 6.68 ERA) takes the mound for Detroit, while KC hands the ball to ace Jason Vargas (17-10 & 4.03 ERA). Sanchez will be making his 27th appearance and 16th start this season. He has pitched six innings and allowed one run in each of his last two starts, dropping his ERA from 7.43 on Sep. 10th. Sanchez threw just five pitches before leaving a start against the Royals back on Sep. 5 with a calf injury and has allowed a total of five runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings against Kansas City this season. He is 6-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 17 career appearances, 15 of them starts (teams are 9-6), against Kansas City. Vargas was knocked around for a combined 20 runs in 17 2/3 innings during a string of four straight losses that began on Aug. 19 but comes into this contest having won three in a row, allowing only four runs over 16 1/3 innings (2.20 ERA). Vargas has not fared well against the Tigers this season, going 0-2, while allowing 13 ERs in 4 2/3 innings. He's 3-6 with a 6.86 ERA over 12 career starts vs. Detroit (teams are 4-8).

The pick: The Tigers are 'done' and why back Sanchez? Sure, Vargas' history vs. the Tigers is ugly but only Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) and Corey Kluber (Indians), each with 18 victories, have won more than Vargas' 17. That's the most by a Royal since Paul Byrd also won 17 in 2002. One last thing. The Royals are 19-11 in all of Vargas' starts in 2017, leaving him with MLB's fourth-best moneyline mark (plus-$1083). Make KC an 8*.