For a preview of Game 2, click here.
Tigers vs. Athletics Game 1 Odds
| Tigers Odds | -150 |
| Athletics Odds | +125 |
| Over/Under | 7 (-120 / +100) |
| Time | 3:37 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
As the MLB resumes on Thursday, the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics will square off in a double-header. Outside of Miguel Cabrera and Javy Baez, this matchup will be a "who's who?" of "who's that?"
Tarik Skubal will take the ball in Game 1 and will face off against another lefty in Zach Logue.
The Tigers stumbled into the All-Star break, going 2-8 in their last 10 games, while the A's went 4-6 over their last 10. Neither team has been lighting it up this year, but two bad teams going head-to-head can create an interesting matchup.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers seem intent to start their second half on the right foot by handing Tarik Skubal the ball. Skubal has been Detroit's best starting pitcher this season, but he struggled heading into the break. Perhaps some extra rest will help him get back on track.
Skubal's last eight starts saw him get knocked around for a 6.86 ERA. However, he posted a 4.47 FIP, and 3.86 xFIP over those eight games as well, so bad luck may have compounded some of his issues.
Overall, Skubal has been stronger on the road than at home. His 2.85 FIP and 2.93 xFIP are still excellent marks, and he'll get to pitch in a pitcher-friendly environment at RingCentral Stadium (is that what it's called now?).
Additionally, the Tigers bullpen has been great this year. Moreover — despite Detroit's well-documented offensive struggles — the Tigers offense pounds left-handed pitching on the road. The Tigers rank top 10 against lefties, and that rank has improved to sixth in MLB during the last few weeks.
Oakland Athletics
Zach Logue will get the start for the Oakland A's on Thursday. Logue delivered a strong debut but has struggled during his last four big-league starts. Over that stretch, Logue has been pummeled for an 8.27 ERA, and his 7.40 FIP does not leave much hope that he'll fare better moving forward.
The A's offense has struggled all year, and Oakland has had a particularly hard time generating offense at home. Even if Skubal is still in the midst of a modest downturn, the A's have posted the lowest team wRC+ in the league against left-handed pitching at home. This could be a "get right" matchup for Skubal.
Furthermore, the A's bullpen has been an absolute nightmare this season. Although their numbers over the past few weeks look decent, the memories of their numerous meltdowns will haunt A's backers forever.
Tigers-Athletics Pick
On paper, this is an ugly matchup. However, watching two terrible teams duke it out can be fun if you're sick in the head like me. The Tigers moneyline (-150) is on the fringe of decent value at and feels like a safe bet.
However, if you're looking for a higher-risk, higher-reward opportunity, then the Tigers' runline is be the move so long as it remains plus-money. Just make sure you have your therapist's phone number handy during this one.
Pick: Tigers RL +125
