ODDS ANALYSIS
Two of the top teams in the majors meet for an interleague series when the Detroit Tigers visit the St. Louis Cardinals. The teams faced each other in the World Series three times – 1934, 1968 and 2006. Detroit’s had the better of the interleague series winning 19 of 29 matchups entering the weekend set.
Detroit broke out of a slump in Thursday’s 13-1 win over Minnesota with a season-high 20 hits after totaling seven runs while losing three of their previous four games. Despite splitting their recent six-game homestand the Tigers are a favorable play on the moneyline up 5.03 units on the season and 5.06 units on the runline. The under is 5-2 in Detroit’s last seven and 4-2 in the last six games started by Alfredo Simón.
The Cardinals own the best record and are the most profitable team in the majors in the black 12.79 units entering the weekend. They return home following a six-game road trip, on which they suffered their first series loss of the season and went 3-3, owners of the best record at 14-3. With the top pitching staff in the bigs, St. Louis has played the under at 9-7-1 at home and 18-15-1 overall. However the Cards have played the over in three of Lance Lynn’s last four starts.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Alfredo Simón (4-1, 3.05 ERA) was terrific in a no-decision Tuesday giving up one run in 7.2 innings in a 2-1 10-inning win over the Twins. He tossed seven scoreless frames before Torii Hunter tied the game with a sac fly in the eighth. He gave up only six hits with six strikeouts and a walk.
Simón beat the Cardinals twice in three starts during the NL Central race for the Reds last season. He’s 3-0 with a 3.29 ERA over 41 innings in 17 career appearances against them.
Lance Lynn (2-3, 3.27 ERA) struck out nine over six shutout innings in Tuesday’s win over the Indians. He allowed four hits and four walks lowering his ERA to 3.27 in the win, his first since April 15.
Lynn’s only appearance against Detroit came on June 19, 2012 when he allowed five runs on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings in a 6-3 loss.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“He was just playing catch, like normal. He had the same pitches working. I would say the split was effective, probably a little bit more effective than last outing. He still had it at times. He got big swings and misses with it. I thought he threw more fastballs than he did last outing and he kept hitters off-balance with his location.” – Tigers manager Brad Ausmus on Alfredo Simón
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera entered Thursday’s game with six home runs and a .460 average in day games, compared with no homers and a .158 average at night. He added two more homers in the sunshine Thursday, including a no-doubt drive into the left field seats. His third multi-homer game of the season gave him 398 career home runs. Playing under the lights Sunday against a tough right-hander in Lance Lynn doesn’t bode well for Miggy but manager Brad Ausmus can’t sit the most destructive offensive player in the game. It might be a good idea to stay away from the Tigers when Cabrera is due up.
PROP TALK
Cards third baseman Matt Carpenter sat out the series in Pittsburgh last weekend with extreme fatigue, but he says he feels great now, and we believe it. Carpenter didn’t appear to miss a beat upon his return as he doubled and scored before delivering an RBI single in an 8-3 win over Cleveland on Tuesday. He then swatted a game-winning two-run home run in the eighth inning in Thursday’s 2-1 win. “I hate not being out here every day, missing time. Any chance you can come out here play and not only help us win a game but win a series, it’s a big deal,” he said after Thursday’s game. The rejuvenated Carpenter leads the team with six homers and 23 RBI’s after the blast, raising his average to .322. He’s rested and playing well so expect some good at-bats against Alfredo Simón and a few hits.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Playing an interleague game in an NL park seems like a disadvantage for the Tigers, taking a stick out of the lineup and letting pitchers who aren’t used to hitting get in a few cuts. Not so for Detroit with former NL hurler Alfredo Simón on the hill. Simón had seven hits with three doubles for the Reds last season and was also the winning pitcher in a pair of starts against the Cards. The Tigers also showed a little spark in the lumber banging out 20 hits Thursday after the sticks went silent for a few games.
The Cards have been so good this season it took them 10 series before they finally lost one, dropping two of three to the Pirates last weekend. They responded by taking two of three from the Indians but their 3-3 stretch entering this series is their worst over six games since they were also 3-3 after the first six game of the year. Oh, the problems in St. Louis. We thought a few weeks back when Adam Wainwright was lost for the season that the Cards season went along with him. Boy we’re we wrong. The Cards have seemingly gotten better with the majors best pitching staff and a group of hitters that are clutch. They can’t win all the time, though, and the Tigers salvage the series finale behind a strong effort from Alfredo Simón.
Detroit 4, St. Louis 2
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2015, at 8:05 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium. The matchup can be seen live on ESPN.
