Tigers vs. Red Sox Odds
| Tigers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
+114 | 9.5 -102 / -120 | +1.5 -176 |
| Red Sox Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-134 | 9.5 -102 / -120 | -1.5 +146 |
The third and final game of this series gets underway Sunday as the AL East's Boston Red Sox host the AL Central's Detroit Tigers.
These teams split the first two meetings of this series as Boston won Friday and Detroit bounced back Saturday.
Will the Red Sox defend their home diamond, or can the Tigers end the series on a high note?
Here's a look at the odds and my Tigers vs. Red Sox betting pick and prediction.
Detroit Tigers
The first half of the season exceeded expectations for the Tigers, who were firmly involved in the AL Central race.
However, regression has hit hard over the past month, which is primarily a result of Detroit's poor hitting.
Detroit ranks in the bottom five of the league in runs scored per game, hits per game, BA, SLG, OPS and home runs. The Tigers also struggle to avoid strikeouts.
When facing right-handed pitching this season, Detroit ranks 24th in K%.
Looking at Sunday's projected starting lineup, six of nine hitters possess a K% north of 22% this year. Those strikeout woes are likely to continue against right-hander Kutter Crawford.
Boston Red Sox
Crawford takes the mound for Boston and should be a good candidate to back. Through 22 appearances this season, Crawford possesses a 3.80 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.
While those surface-level stats are not anything special, his underlying metrics are even stronger. Crawford ranks in the 70th percentile or higher in average exit velocity, Hard-Hit%, xERA/xwOBA and xBA.
We're going to back Crawford in the strikeout department. He ranks in the 61st percentile in both K% and Whiff% and in the 91st percentile in chase rate.
Tigers vs. Red Sox
Betting Pick & Prediction
Crawford's strikeout success is likely to continue against Detroit. In his start against the Tigers earlier this season, the right-hander surrendered just one run on five hits and collected six strikeouts through five innings.
The current iteration of Detroit's lineup owns a fade-worthy 28.6 K% and a 23.7 Whiff% through 21 career plate appearances against Crawford.
You can find Crawford's strikeout prop at 5.5 at DraftKings.
Crawford has collected six or more strikeouts in three of his past five starts.
