ODDS ANALYSIS
The Tigers kick off a seven-game California road trip with the first of three games against the Athletics. Both teams have a heavy travel load to get here with the Tigers completing a weekend set at home against the Astros and the A’s flying back from Tampa after a seven-game road trip.
Detroit will be on the road for the first time this season against an AL team outside the Central Division and have been a good road team going 12-7 with a split of its last 10 away from Comerica Park. Playing on the road is something the Tigers haven’t done much recently completing a stretch Sunday where 13 of 16 where at home. The Tigers are in the black 5.05 units on the moneyline in their 19 road games and took two of three at St. Louis on their most recent road trip.
It’s difficult to imagine but the Athletics took possession of the worst record in baseball during its road trip that concluded Sunday in Tampa. It would be nice to say the A’s are looking forward to returning home, but the A’s have been worse at O.co Coliseum than they are on the road. The A’s have the fewest home wins in the majors and are in the red 13.56 units in their 19 games at O.co Coliseum. The A’s have been a strong play on the over, particularly at home where the over is 16-3.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Shane Greene (4-2, 4.05 ERA), who left his last start with ulnar tendinitis, limited the Brewers to three hits and two runs over 6.1 innings on Wednesday. He struck out six and walked two getting a no-decision in the win. He’s rebounded nicely from a rough three-game stretch going 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 19.1 innings over his last three turns.
Greene will make his 24th career start in his first appearance against the Athletics.
Jesse Hahn (1-3, 4.42 ERA) had a quality start but not a quality outcome in his last start, allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in six innings, saddled with the loss at Houston on Wednesday. He’s surrendered 18 earned runs over his last five starts and the A’s are winless in that span.
Hahn will make his 21st career start in his first appearance against the Tigers.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I look up on MLB Network and the number of errors is flashed up there every 10 minutes. But you can’t let that get in your head. You just have to get better.” – Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien, who leads the majors in errors.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Tigers have been the American League’s best team in day games this season, the Athletics own the major’s worst record in home games and there is a scheduled 1:05 p.m. local time first pitch. You do the math. Detroit entered the weekend with a 16-4 record in the daylight with slugger Miguel Cabrera one of several players who enjoy the early starts. Cabrera is batting .455 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs in those 20 afternoon contests. Miggy is always a threat when he steps in the box and has crushed the ball during the daytime.
PROP TALK
Everything points to right fielder Josh Reddick having a big game offensively for the A’s. Reddick is one of two regulars hitting above .300 and has enjoyed tremendous success at home, even if the team hasn’t. Reddick has hit safely in 11 of 13 games at O.co and is batting a robust .426 there. He’s also performed will against right-handed pitching boasting a .346 average through his first 37 games. And if that’s not enough, Detroit starter Shane Greene allows left-handed hitters to bat a cool .314 off him with an .842 OPS. The A’s have struggled at home but Reddick is doing just fine. Watch for him to get a few hits and RBIs in this one.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Tigers aren’t too familiar with playing on the road, finishing up a stretch where they played 13 of 16 at home. But when they leave the most populous city in the state of Michigan they’re pretty good. The Tigers are 12-7 on the road and visit a struggling Athletics team that has just five home wins. After dealing with a bout of tendinitis in his elbow and tweaking his mechanics, starter Shane Greene has been stellar with a 1.40 ERA in his last three starts.
The A’s traded for Edward Mujica a few weeks ago to help with the team’s bullpen issues and following 5.1 scoreless innings and a win in five games, he fractured his thumb and went on the DL. That’s how the ball has been bouncing for the A’s this season who took over last place in the majors on their recent road trip and have a MLB-low five home wins. Detroit starter Shane Greene has struggled against lefties and the A’s are strong from that side of the plate with Josh Reddick, Stephen Vogt and Eric Sogard. They get the A’s a rare home win on Monday.
Oakland 5, Detroit 4
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