The Detroit Tigers face the Kansas City Royals on July 25 at 1:10 p.m. ET in a pivotal game for the American League Central standings. Casey Mize, with a 2.61 ERA over his last six starts and a devastating splitter (42% whiff rate), leads the Tigers as they chase a Wild Card spot, 3.5 games behind the Twins. The Royals, 12 games back, struggle against ground-ball pitchers. Key X-factors include Tigers’ Parker Meadows’ hot bat against lefties and Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr.’s career 0-for-10 against Mize. A controversial check-swing call in the fifth inning adds tension to this matchup.