Everything about this game -- the pitching matchup, the site and the over/under total --- points to the Tigers earning a split in their 4-game series with the Rangers.
Detroit is 80-43 in all games this year, and is 47-17 when the total is 9 to 9½.
As a -150 to -175 home favorite, the Tigers are 11-2 this year. And they're 73-37 in 2006 when playing on grass. The Detroit bullpen has a nice 3.39 ERA overall and a 3.34 ERA at home. Motown starter Jeremy Bonderman is sporting an 11-5 record with a 3.69 ERA, and is coming off three straight no-decisions, the last two in which he pitched well enough to win. The right-hander has a record of 2-0 in three career starts against the Rangers and is facing them for the first time this season.
Bonderman's mound opponent for Texas, John Karonka, is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA vs Detroit lifetime, and was recalled this week from Triple-A to take Kip Wells' spot in the rotation.
We'll recommend a small play on the Detroit Tigers today.
Koronka has been struggling recently, but laying 70 cents on an ice cold Detroit offense doesn't make sense. I am passing. If you guys do play this, look at Texas +1.5