Max Sherzer will start in his first game with the Tigers, but he faced the Royals @ KC with the Dbacks once last year in what was a decent outing. He went 6 innings and gave up 9 hits with just 2 ER. The Royals don't really pose a lineup that scares you at this point in the season. He's got a 3.48 ERA in April from last year and has pitched well early throughout his young career. I give him a 2X advantage over his opponent today Luke Hochevar.
Hochevar is a young talent that showed promising stuff in spring training, but this is the regular season. Hochevar will pitch some solid games this year, but not today. He's got a 6.55 ERA overall from last year 10.80 in May, and has struggled against the Tigers pitching just 9 innings giving up 20 hits and 13 ER in his last 2 starts. Tiger hitters have a .459 average off him. The Royals are 3-13 in Hochevars last 16 starts and they won't get much help behind the plate from Culbreth who is 3-14 for the Royals in his last 17 games. The Tiges meanwhile have several advantages here. They have proven they can his and they are 25-12 in their last 37 vs. KC and judging by 8 runs on opening day when they faced Zach Greinke, facing Hochevar should be a walk in the park.
Note, Royals 1-10 in their last 11 vs. RH starter.
