With both the NHL and NBA having the day off today, we’re going to take a look at an MLB game. The Detroit Tigers, currently 12-23, head to Tampa Bay to face the Rays. Although their record isn’t very impressive, they’ve won their last three games. These will be in our MLB Computer Picks and our Bet of the Day.
Beating the Orioles Orioles in a three-game series is an impressive feat. The question is, can they kick this series off with a win?
The Tampa Bay Rays are 21-14, ranking second in the AL East. The Tigers may seem like easy competition for them, but no game is a guarantee.
Today, we’re going to build out a single-game parlay for this matchup. The Rays have won three of their last five games, so will they add the Tigers to that list? Or could the Tigers pull off an impressive upset over the Tigers tonight?
Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays Preview
As we mentioned, the Tigers have won their last three games. Through those games against the Orioles, Detroit averaged four runs per game. They did a pretty great job pitching as well, only giving up three runs over the course of three games.
Today, they take on the Rays, who have a .234 batting average. The Tigers will also start the 0-1 Alex Faedo on the mound tonight.
The Rays are coming off of a 3-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Rays are second in the AL East, 4.5 games behind the first-place New York Yankees. Corey Kluber will get the start for the Rays tonight.
Kluber is 1-2 as a starter with an ERA of 4.55. Over the course of 29.2 innings, he’s allowed 33 hits and four home runs. This game is shaping up to be a close one.
Best Moneyline Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -210
The Rays are heavy favorites for a reason. They have better batters, and the Tigers don’t perform well when on the road. This season, the Tigers are 3-10 when traveling, something you should keep in mind here.
It’s also important to note that Kluber has a lot more time on the mound than Faedo does. Faedo has pitched only ten innings, allowing ten hits and a home run.
The Total: UNDER 7.5
When looking at each of the recent games by these teams, you’ll see a common outcome. Over the last three games for each team, the total has stayed under 7.5.
Offensively, the Rays have a distinct advantage over the Tigers. However, even the Rays have struggled in recent games to score more than five runs. The last time they did was Saturday, May 7.
To Hit a Home Run: Brandon Lowe (Tampa Bay) +310
Against Faedo, we believe that Brandon Lowe has a very likely chance of hitting a home run. At the moment, he leads the team with five home runs of his own.
In the last game against the Blue Jays, Lowe had a batting average of .250. Three of his home runs he’s hit at home, and two of them have been in May. This game gives him a chance to keep adding to his home run total.
To Record a Hit: Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers) -200
Cabrera is the leading batter for the Detroit Tigers. Not only does he lead the team in home runs (3), he has the leading batting average as well.
With an average of .297, it’s almost a guarantee that he gets a hit against Kluber tonight. If you’re feeling risky, you can also tack on his +700 to hit a home run.