ODDS ANALYSIS
The Tigers conceded Monday’s game sitting Miguel Cabrera and Jose Iglesias. Cabrera is a top hitter in the American League and has destroyed Oakland pitching so the A’s caught a break. The Tigers were shutout on four hits playing under the total for the third straight road game and the under is 7-3 in Detroit’s last 10 on the road. The Tigers have leveled off on the field and at the betting window. They’ve dropped below the Twins in the Central Division standings losing six of nine in the red 4.22 units on the moneyline in that span. They are still 3.13 units in the black for the season.
Just when everyone was about to write off the Athletics they string together their longest winning streak of the season, beating the Tigers on Monday for their third straight victory. There is still a long way to go after a 2-14 skid preceded their streak. The under is 6-3-1 in their last 10 games but overall the Athletics have been a strong over play going 29-15-3 and 16-4 at home. The Athletics are up 3.46 units on the moneyline over their three-game win streak but remain less than profitable overall in the red 18.05 units for the season.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Detroit’s Alfredo Simón (5-2, 2.67 ERA) was dealing in Friday’s win over the Astros, allowing two unearned runs on four hits over seven innings with five strikeouts and a walk. The combination of a big ballpark and acres of foul territory could be a godsend for Simón who’s 3-0 with a 0.94 ERA in similarly spacious Comerica Park.
Simón has allowed 15 hits and four home runs in 11 innings and owns a career ERA of 9.00 against the Athletics with one start in his five lifetime appearances.
Oakland’s Scott Kazmir (2-3, 3.09 ERA) gave up three runs – two earned – in 5.2 innings in a loss to Tampa Bay on Friday. He struck out four and walked three in the loss and remains winless over his last seven starts.
Kazmir is 5-5 with a 3.51 ERA in 15 career starts against the Tigers with 81 strikeouts and 11 home runs allowed in 82 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“This is our first three-game win streak of the year, so we’re going to enjoy it. And you’re always trying to look to get some momentum from that. We had trouble getting two in a row, which is awfully frustrating. Now to be able to get three in a row, against a real god offensive team, certainly it gives you a lot more confidence going into the next day.” – Manager Bob Melvin after the A’s won their third straight game
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Oakland’s defense has been such a concern the club hired former Rangers manager Ron Washington to tutor the infielders, particularly shortstop Marcus Semien, who leads the majors with 17 errors after committing yet another on Monday. The A’s committed three errors Monday to bring baseball’s highest total to 49 – matching the third-highest total by a team through 47 games since 2000. The miscues didn’t factor in the scoring Monday but the abundance of errors has led to the most unearned runs allowed in the majors this season. Sometimes the pitching staff helps to negate the errors but giving a good hitting team like the Tigers extra outs can, and will, be costly.
PROP TALK
If you need more evidence as to just how important Miguel Cabrera is to the Tigers offense, have a look at the series opener. Cabrera got his first day off Monday and Detroit was silenced on four hits by Jesse Hahn. Would Miggy have made a difference in that game? I would say yes, since he was hitting .413 over a 12-game hitting streak entering the series and leads the AL with a .446 on-base percentage. According to manager Brad Ausmus, Cabrera’s been dealing with a sore ankle and the team took the safe approach Monday. The two-time AL MVP is a .354 hitter with 25 RBIs in 21 regular season games against Oakland over the previous three years and two of his eight career hits off Scott Kazmir have left the yard. Watch for Miggy to have big night.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Once the Tigers get used to being on the road they’ll be just fine. Detroit played 13 of 16 at home before its trip west and had to get used to a lengthy plane flight and the time change. They also had two of their top sticks out of the lineup in the opener with Miguel Cabrera and Jose Iglesias sitting on the bench. Cabrera’s fighting a sore ankle while Iglesias has some knee issues. Both are expected back in the lineup soon and the Tigers will get back to their winning ways.
The A’s have shown a little life after stretch of two wins in 16 games planted them firmly in the basement of the AL West. The team continues to be plagued by defensive miscues that have led to an unusually high number of unearned runs but it’s also helped the Athletics cash the over 29 times in their first 47 games. A suspect bullpen could get some help soon with Sean Doolittle ready to make his return off the DL. The A’s get better at closing out games with him at the backend of the pen but he won’t be used in save chances just yet.
Detroit 6, Oakland 5
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