The Detroit Tigers will be squaring off against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. This AL matchup will get underway at 8:05 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Southwest will broadcast the game.
Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers Odds
Texas (-140) is the favorite over Detroit (+130) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the games total sit at -110 for both the over and the under. The games most recent runline odds stand at -170 for taking the Tigers +1.5 runs and +150 for the Rangers -1.5.
The Rangers are 14-23 SU and 15-21 ATS. They’ve lost 3.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 10.2 units against the spread (ATS). Texas has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven. The Tigers have gone 14-20 SU this year and are 17-16 ATS. In total, the teams lost 2.8 units for moneyline bettors in the seasons early going and 2.5 units ATS. Detroithas covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in six of those seven.
Rangers games have an over/under record of 19-15-2 thus far in 2018. Tigers games have gone under 20 times, gone over 13 times and pushed on zero instances.
Right-hander Mike Fiers is projected to start for Detroit. Fiers is 2-2 with a 5.00 ERA and 16 strikeouts. He has yet to face Texas this year, but he made three starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 0-2 record with a 12.21 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
The Rangers will turn to lefty Mike Minor (3-1, 4.36 ERA), who’s got 28 punchouts and nine walks as well as a 1.24 WHIP. Minor did not record a start against the Tigers in 2017.
As a unit, Texas pitchers have given up 5.4 runs per game overall this season. The clubs starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.27, a WHIP of 1.50 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 4.49 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 8.1 K/9.
The Texas hitters have put up 4.1 runs per outing, including 5.1 per game over its last 10 games and 5.0 per game over their last five. The team has hit .205/.273/.398 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Rangers offense has been led by outfielder Nomar Mazara and first baseman Joey Gallo. Mazara is hitting .287/.345/.507 with eight home runs, 24 RBIs and 20 runs scored, and Gallo’s line is .224/.302/.530 with 12 homers, 25 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Mazara particularly enjoyed hitting against righty pitching at home in 2017. Across 240 such plate appearances, he slashed .312/.379/.526 (compared to his total season line of .253/.323/.422).
In the other dugout, Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starters own a 3.91 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 7.13 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.73, along with a K/9 of 8.36.
The Tigers offense has slashed .259/.320/.410 on its way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.8 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 3.8 per game over the teams last five outings (1-4 SU).
Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and first baseman Miguel Cabrera have led Detroit’s hitters. Castellanos is slashing .324/.378/.507 with three home runs, 22 RBIs and 18 runs scored, while Cabrera is hitting .323/.407/.516 with three homers, 21 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .272/.320/.490, Castellanos performed well against lefty pitching on the road last year, maintaining a slash line of .329/.368/.720 across 87 such plate appearances.
The Tigers have lost 1.6 units and are 2-3 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in four of those games, compared to one that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Rangers have lost 0.1 units and are 11-14 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in 12 of those games, as opposed to 12 that’ve cashed the under.
Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Tigers have lost four of their last five games SU.
- Detroit has recorded 24.0 Runs +
