The red-hot Detroit Tigers will go for their sixth straight victory as they play host to the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Fox Sports Detroit will showcase the matchup and the game gets underway at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
Cleveland (receiving -150) is the favorite over Detroit (+140) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this afternoon game at 7.5 runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). Runline odds sit at -105 for taking the Indians -1.5 runs and -115 for the Tigers +1.5.
Both teams have been friendly to bettors this year this year. The Tigers are 7-3 straight up (SU) and 7-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 6.3 units for moneyline bettors and 2.9 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. On the other hand, the Indians are 6-3 SU and have gone 4-5 ATS. Overall, the club has gained 2.1 units for moneyline bettors in this young season, but have lost 1.5 units ATS.
Detroit games have had an over/under record of 2-8 so far in 2019. The Indians have an over/under record of 4-5.
Corey Kluber (0-2, 5.23 ERA) is projected to get the start for the visiting Indians. The right-handed Kluber recorded 222 strikeouts over 214 innings last year with only 34 walks and finished the season 20-7 overall with a 2.89 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He made three starts against Detroit in 2018 and compiled a 3-0 record against the Tigers with a 1.16 ERA and 26 strikeouts.
The Tigers are turning to righty Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 0.66 ERA), who started 25 games last year and finished the season 7-8 overall with a 4.52 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He recorded two starts against the Indians a year ago and assembled a 0-1 record with a 12.27 ERA and two strikeouts.
As a unit, Detroit’s pitching staff has given up 2.6 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have an ERA of 2.02, a WHIP of 0.93 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.7. The bullpen has a 2.81 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. In three games against AL Central foes, Tigers starters have an ERA of 1.69 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.09.
Detroit’s hitters have produced 2.7 runs per outing, including 4.0 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .224/.324/.365 over its last five matchups and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.
Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and second baseman Niko Goodrum have led the Tigers’ offense this year. Castellanos is hitting .289/.386/.447 with 11 hits, two RBIs and six runs scored, while Goodrum is hitting .258 with eight hits, three RBIs and four runs.
In the other dugout, Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 3.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 2.96 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 12.72 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 2.63, along with a K-per-9 of 10.21.
Indians hitters have slashed .182/.265/.273 on their way to 3.3 runs scored per game in 2019, including over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Cleveland’s offense has been powered by first baseman Carlos Santana and outfielder Tyler Naquin. Santana is hitting .419/.486/.581 with 13 hits, eight RBIs and seven runs scored, while Naquin is hitting .304/.304/.391 with seven hits and one RBI.
The Indians have gained 2.9 units and are 3-4 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in two of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Tigers have netted 6.3 units and are 7-3 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in two of those games, compared to eight that went under.
Indians vs. Tigers MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Tigers went 6-13 SU against the Indians last season.
- The Indians’ bullpen managed an ERA of 3.20 against the Tigers last year.
- The Indians have a team OPS of .537 this season and an OPS of .518 against right-handed pitchers. The Tigers’ OPS sits at .570 overall and their lefty-righty split is nearly identical.
