The Detroit Tigers are ready to play their divisional rival Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. The matchup will get underway at 6:10 p.m. ET and SportsTime Ohio will broadcast the game.
Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Indians Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Detroit (+240) as the underdog to Cleveland (-280). The total sits at 8 runs and bettors can take the over or the under for -110. Runline odds stand at +115 for taking the Tigers +1.5 runs and -135 for the Indians -1.5.
The Indians are 6-5 SU and 3-7 ATS. The team has lost 2.9 units for moneyline bettors and 5.0 units against the spread (ATS). Cleveland has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in six of those seven. The Tigers are 4-6 SU and have gone 4-5 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 0.3 units for moneyline gamblers through the early portions of the season and 1.2 units ATS. Detroithas covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in six of those seven.
Cleveland games have a 3-7 over/under record thus far in 2018. Detroit has an over/under record of 3-6.
The Tigers have lost 0.3 units and are 4-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in three of those games, as opposed to six that’ve gone under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Indians have lost 4.4 units and are 2-4 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in two of those games, compared to four that went under the total.
Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 8.71 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Tigers. The right-handed Zimmermann started 29 games last year and finished the season 8-13 overall with a 6.08 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He made three starts against the Indians in 2017 and compiled a 0-3 record against them with a 9.22 ERA and nine strikeouts.
The Indians are putting the ball in the hands of righty Carlos Carrasco (2-0, 5.40 ERA), who struck out 226 hitters across 200 innings last year (32 starts), while finishing the season 18-6 overall with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He made six starts against Detroit a year ago and assembled a 4-1 record with a 1.82 ERA and 45 strikeouts.
As a unit, Cleveland’s pitching staff has given up 3.0 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have a 3.03 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.90, a WHIP of 0.90 and a K/9 of 9.3. In five games against divisional opponents, Indians starters have an ERA of 1.05 and the bullpen’s ERA is 0.84.
The Cleveland offense is putting up 2.8 runs per contest, including 2.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .153/.238/.264 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Outfielders Lonnie Chisenhall and Tyler Naquin have led the Indians’ batters this year. Chisenhall is slashing .235/.381/.294 with four hits, zero RBIs and three runs scored, and Naquin’s line is .214/.313/.429 with three hits and two RBIs.
Compared to his total season slash line of .288/.360/.521, Chisenhall did not seem to enjoy batting against right-handed pitchers at home last season, slashing .250/.286/.471 over 112 such plate appearances.
In the visiting dugout, Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 3.6 runs per game and its starters own a 2.93 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 6.02 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.89, along with a K-per-9 of 8.57.
Tigers hitters have slashed .213/.303/.310 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Detroit’s offensive production been led by Nicholas Castellanos and JaCoby Jones. Castellanos is slashing .300/.378/.450 with 12 hits, three RBIs and eight runs scored, while Jones (.300/.500/.300) is up to three hits and zero RBIs.
Castellanos seemed to take a step back when hitting right-handed pitching on the road last season. Over 239 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .212/.264/.360 (compared to his total season line of .272/.320/.490).
Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Detroit has posted 18.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 16.6 over its last five.
- The Tigers have hit two home runs in their last 10 games. The Indians have hit 12 over their last 10.
