MLB Odds: Texas Rangers Visit Detroit
Texas heads to Motown on Monday with a 4.5-game lead in the AL West. The Tigers are just 1.5-games behind Minnesota in the AL Central as they open this three-game series.
When is the Detroit Tigers’ bubble going to burst?
The Tigers are sitting relatively pretty at 48-42 SU (+3.79 units) in the American League Central, 1.5 games behind the first-place White Sox, and in eighth on the MLB moneylist.
Detroit is also the best home wager on the baseball betting odds board at 32-12 SU (+16.85 units). The Tigers are killing it at Comerica Park this season.
So what gives? Basically, Detroit is the luckiest team in the AL. With a -2 run differential, the Tigers would be fortunate to be playing .500 baseball, let alone at their current level in view of Chicago and Minnesota in the AL Central.
Eight other AL ballclubs have a better run differential than Detroit, including the AL West-leading Texas Rangers (53-39, +0.93 units). The teams hook up for a three-game set at Comerica Park beginning on Monday night.
To give you a sense of just how precarious is the situation for the Tigers, look just how close they are to the Rangers in the standings. Texas is third in the AL with a +84 run differential, yet it’s only 3.5 games ahead of Detroit.
Any handicapper will tell you it’s a matter of time before the Tigers hit the skids. Over the long haul, this should – and will – catch up to Jim Leyland’s team.
That said, regardless of the numbers, you have to give Detroit serious consideration anytime it takes the field at Comerica Park. We can agree the Tigers are set to go down the toilet, but they figure to remain a solid play at home.
Detroit also isn’t getting the pitching and defense it needs to stay competitive over the long term. The Tigers rank 28th in quality starts with 41, and are 26th in fewest errors committed with 65.
You have to think a mediocre starting rotation is shouldering too much of the burden with three key relievers missing from the back end. Joel Zumaya (arm) and Zach Miner (Tommy John surgery) are out for the season, while Bobby Seay (torn rotator cuff) is on the 60-day disabled list.
The recent trends suggest Detroit is already headed downhill. The Tigers have now lost five straight games against the moneyline after getting swept at Cleveland over the weekend. The current skid comes on the heels of a five-game winning streak.
The Rangers are headed in the other direction after taking three of four at Boston, as they send Scott Feldman (5-8, 5.32 ERA) to the hill for Monday night’s series opener (7:05 p.m. ET).
As much as I’d lean towards taking Texas as +105 underdogs on Monday night, the ‘over’ on the 9.5-run total is the sharp wager with Feldman matching up with the Tigers’ Jeremy Bonderman (5-6, 4.79 ERA).
The Rangers are 12-5 O/U in Feldman’s 17 starts this season, while Bonderman has put up a 7.71 ERA in his last three starts.
Besides, Texas has struggled in Detroit against the Tigers. 4-10 overall in their last 10 meetings with Detroit dating back to 2008, the Rangers have dropped 11 in a row at Comerica Park.
The good news for Texas is Tommy Hunter (6-0, 2.39 ERA) takes his turn in the rotation for Tuesday night’s middle game (7:05 p.m. ET). One of the best-kept secrets in baseball, Hunter has allowed more than two earned runs only once in eight outings this season.
Detroit is expected to call up Armando Galarraga (3-2, 4.45 ERA) from Triple-A Toledo to toe the rubber opposite Hunter. Galarraga last pitched on July 6 against Baltimore when he allowed three runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 7-5 win for the Tigers.
Wednesday’s matchup (7:05 p.m. ET) features Detroit’s Max Scherzer (6-7, 4.74 ERA) against Texas’ Colby Lewis (9-5, 3.42 ERA). Scherzer gave up four runs over five innings in the Tigers’ 8-2 loss to the Indians on Friday, but prior to that he’d allowed only three runs over his previous 27 2-3 innings.
The teams split a four-game series at Rangers Ballpark in April, with Detroit outscoring Texas 24-23 over the four games.
Texas heads to Motown on Monday with a 4.5-game lead in the AL West. The Tigers are just 1.5-games behind Minnesota in the AL Central as they open this three-game series.
When is the Detroit Tigers’ bubble going to burst?
The Tigers are sitting relatively pretty at 48-42 SU (+3.79 units) in the American League Central, 1.5 games behind the first-place White Sox, and in eighth on the MLB moneylist.
Detroit is also the best home wager on the baseball betting odds board at 32-12 SU (+16.85 units). The Tigers are killing it at Comerica Park this season.
So what gives? Basically, Detroit is the luckiest team in the AL. With a -2 run differential, the Tigers would be fortunate to be playing .500 baseball, let alone at their current level in view of Chicago and Minnesota in the AL Central.
Eight other AL ballclubs have a better run differential than Detroit, including the AL West-leading Texas Rangers (53-39, +0.93 units). The teams hook up for a three-game set at Comerica Park beginning on Monday night.
To give you a sense of just how precarious is the situation for the Tigers, look just how close they are to the Rangers in the standings. Texas is third in the AL with a +84 run differential, yet it’s only 3.5 games ahead of Detroit.
Any handicapper will tell you it’s a matter of time before the Tigers hit the skids. Over the long haul, this should – and will – catch up to Jim Leyland’s team.
That said, regardless of the numbers, you have to give Detroit serious consideration anytime it takes the field at Comerica Park. We can agree the Tigers are set to go down the toilet, but they figure to remain a solid play at home.
Detroit also isn’t getting the pitching and defense it needs to stay competitive over the long term. The Tigers rank 28th in quality starts with 41, and are 26th in fewest errors committed with 65.
You have to think a mediocre starting rotation is shouldering too much of the burden with three key relievers missing from the back end. Joel Zumaya (arm) and Zach Miner (Tommy John surgery) are out for the season, while Bobby Seay (torn rotator cuff) is on the 60-day disabled list.
The recent trends suggest Detroit is already headed downhill. The Tigers have now lost five straight games against the moneyline after getting swept at Cleveland over the weekend. The current skid comes on the heels of a five-game winning streak.
The Rangers are headed in the other direction after taking three of four at Boston, as they send Scott Feldman (5-8, 5.32 ERA) to the hill for Monday night’s series opener (7:05 p.m. ET).
As much as I’d lean towards taking Texas as +105 underdogs on Monday night, the ‘over’ on the 9.5-run total is the sharp wager with Feldman matching up with the Tigers’ Jeremy Bonderman (5-6, 4.79 ERA).
The Rangers are 12-5 O/U in Feldman’s 17 starts this season, while Bonderman has put up a 7.71 ERA in his last three starts.
Besides, Texas has struggled in Detroit against the Tigers. 4-10 overall in their last 10 meetings with Detroit dating back to 2008, the Rangers have dropped 11 in a row at Comerica Park.
The good news for Texas is Tommy Hunter (6-0, 2.39 ERA) takes his turn in the rotation for Tuesday night’s middle game (7:05 p.m. ET). One of the best-kept secrets in baseball, Hunter has allowed more than two earned runs only once in eight outings this season.
Detroit is expected to call up Armando Galarraga (3-2, 4.45 ERA) from Triple-A Toledo to toe the rubber opposite Hunter. Galarraga last pitched on July 6 against Baltimore when he allowed three runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 7-5 win for the Tigers.
Wednesday’s matchup (7:05 p.m. ET) features Detroit’s Max Scherzer (6-7, 4.74 ERA) against Texas’ Colby Lewis (9-5, 3.42 ERA). Scherzer gave up four runs over five innings in the Tigers’ 8-2 loss to the Indians on Friday, but prior to that he’d allowed only three runs over his previous 27 2-3 innings.
The teams split a four-game series at Rangers Ballpark in April, with Detroit outscoring Texas 24-23 over the four games.