The Detroit Tigers will be taking on their divisional rival Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. SportsTime Ohio will broadcast the matchup and the game gets going at 6:10 p.m. ET.
Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Indians Odds
Vegas has listed Cleveland (-170) as the favorite over Detroit (+160). Bettors are able to wager on the game’s total with odds listed at -110 for over 7.5 runs and -110 for under 7.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at Tigers +1.5 runs (-135) and Indians +-1.5 runs (+115).
The Indians are 7-5 SU and 3-8 ATS. They’ve lost 1.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 6.0 units against the spread (ATS). Cleveland has covered the spread just twice in its last seven games and the under has hit in six of those seven. The Tigers are 4-7 SU and have gone 5-5 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors over the early part of the season and 0.2 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in six of those seven.
Cleveland games have had an over/under record of 3-8 so far in 2018. The Tigers have an over/under record of 3-7.
The Tigers have lost 1.4 units and are 5-5 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to seven that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Indians have lost 4.4 units and are 2-4 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in two of those games, as opposed to four that’ve cashed the under.
Michael Fulmer (1-1, 0.68 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Tigers. The right-handed Fulmer started 25 games last year while finishing the season 10-12 overall with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.
The Indians will put the ball in the hands of righty Trevor Bauer (0-1, 2.08 ERA), who struck out 196 hitters in 176 innings last year (with only 60 walks), while finishing the season 17-9 overall with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He made two starts against the Tigers a year ago and put up a 0-2 record with a 13.00 ERA and nine strikeouts.
As a unit, Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 2.8 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 2.79, a WHIP of 1.02 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.9. The bullpen has a 2.90 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 9.3 K/9. In six games against AL Central opponents, Indians starters have an ERA of 1.04 and the bullpen’s ERA is 0.84.
Cleveland’s hitters are putting up 3.0 runs per contest, including 2.5 per game against divisional foes and 2.4 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .189/.268/.297 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Indians’ offense has been led by outfielders Lonnie Chisenhall and Tyler Naquin. Chisenhall is slashing .235/.381/.294 with four hits, zero RBIs and three runs scored, and Naquin’s line is .235/.316/.412 with four hits and three RBIs.
Compared to his total season slash line of .288/.360/.521, Chisenhall seemed to have a little trouble hitting right-handed pitching at home last year, slashing .250/.286/.471 over 112 such plate appearances.
For the visiting squad, Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 3.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 2.90 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 5.95 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.29, along with a K/9 of 8.36.
Tigers hitters have slashed .204/.292/.305 on their way to 3.6 runs scored per game this year, including over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Nicholas Castellanos and JaCoby Jones have led Detroit’s hitters. Castellanos is slashing .273/.347/.409 with 12 hits, three RBIs and eight runs scored, while Jones is hitting .300/.500/.300 with three hits and zero RBIs.
Castellanos seemed to have some trouble hitting righty pitching on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of .212/.264/.360 across 239 such plate appearances (his total season line was .272/.320/.490).
Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Cleveland has recorded 13.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 13.6 over its last five.
- The Tigers have hit three home runs in their last 10 games. The Indians have hit 10 over their last 10.
