The Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians meet up tonight on Monday Night Baseball. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. Currently the odds for the game have Cleveland favored at home.
Detroit holds the best record in baseball and just beat up on the Boston Red Sox during a weekend series. The Tigers have won 11 straight road games and have marched out to a 27-12 record on the season. The road streak is the longest for the Tigers in 30 years.
In recent years the Tigers were a team that had to mash and win baseball games with power but now they're a scary offensive club with power and speed. The bullpen has the best marks since May 1 in baseball as well. Detroit always had bullpen problems with Jim Leyland as the skipper, but Brad Ausmus' club has been getting very good pitching to this point this season.
Cleveland battled with the Tigers all season in 2013, ultimately claiming second place. They have a very good club that can contend for the American League Central crown, but the Indians will need to start beating the Tigers head-to-head in order to cut down on their already inflated 10.5-game deficit. Detroit leads the Central by seven games over Kansas City while the Cleveland Indians are in last place looking up. The Indians have been horrendous on the road this season, already losing 14 times.
Detroit has been scoring runs and getting good pitching. Tonight they'll send Drew Smyly to the mound. The lefty earned a no decision in his last start against Baltimore and has a 2.70 ERA on the season, which is not bad for a No. 5 starter in the American League. The Tigers are hoping he continues to be productive on the hill and a solid game tonight against the Indians is the plan.
Miguel Cabrera is the best hitter in baseball, but teammate Victor Martinez has been killing the baseball. He's had an eight-game hit streak and has an average of .364 during that time with three home runs. During the road win streak Martinez is clubbing the baseball at a .419 clip. Even worse news for the Indians tonight is Martinez is currently hitting .414 with four homers and 13 doubles in his last 29 games against Cleveland, and is hitting .429 with 20 RBIs in his last 12 in Cleveland as well.
The Tigers have gone 15-3 against Cleveland including going 9-1 at Progressive Field last season. Tonight we like Detroit to get a road win.
Free Pick: Detroit 5, Cleveland 2
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