Tigers vs. Guardians Odds
| Tigers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +118 | 8.5 -106 / -114 | -136 |
| Guardians Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -142 | 8.5 -106 / -114 | +116 |
The Detroit Tigers come into this series off a big win Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins, where the bats woke up.
Now they must carry that momentum into tonight as they'll take on the Cleveland Guardians.
Cleveland split its series with America's team, the Cincinnati Reds, as the Guardians could not must much offensively. However, that has been a theme of their season and is the primary reason why they have fallen back in the divisional race.
Can the Guardians get the bats going against the Tigers' lethal lefty? Let's take a closer look to find out.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are not the team that comes to mind when you think of a club with a formidable lineup. However, the young cats must be given credit.
Six guys in Detroit's lineup have above-average hard-hit rates, and the youth movement is leading the charge. Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene have begun to put it together over the last few months and are serious threats to opposing pitchers.
Speaking of opposing pitchers, the Tigers will get to go up against Xzavion Curry. Curry has been a swingman for the Guardians this season but has made strides in the rotation as he's gone five innings in each of his last two starts.
The issue is that Curry being out there longer will only help the Tigers in this matchup. Curry may have a 3.39 ERA, but the 25-year-old right-hander ranks in the first percentile in average exit velocity allowed and is in the fourth percentile in hard-hit rate.
He is due for some sizable regression, as his xERA of 5.15 indicates. The Tigers are in a prime spot to initiate that regression tonight.
Cleveland Guardians
I touched on Cleveland's offensive struggles and it has really limited a team that entered the season as the favorite to win the division. Although, struggling may be putting it lightly as the Guardians are statistically the weakest lineup in baseball.
Yes, they don't strike out, but they don't put the ball in play with any authority. Cleveland is last in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate and barrel rate.
The Guardians will fare well against Tarik Skubal. The young left-hander has tremendous stuff and has displayed it in the handful of starts he's made since returning from injury.
Skubal is due for some significant positive regression, as his xERA is nearly half of his actual ERA. He's done a tremendous job of limiting hard contact and missing barrels, which will only be amplified against the Guardians tonight.
Tigers vs. Guardians
Betting Pick & Prediction
It's clear to see where the Tigers have the edge tonight, which is in the first half of this matchup. They have their future ace on the hill against a Guardians lineup that lacks any pop unless you're talking about the right hook of Jose Ramirez.
On the other side, Detroit's lineup has multiple budding stars, and they will shine against Curry.
Back the Tigers to be up halfway through this one.
