Memorial Day Major League Baseball takes place Monday when the Detroit Tigers take on the Oakland Athletics. The game is scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on MLB.tv. Currently the odds for the game have Oakland favored to pick up the win.
The Athletics and Tigers are both sitting in first place in their respective divisions. Oakland sports the best record in the American League with 30 wins on the season and have a slim 1.5-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the American League West. Detroit is 10 games over the .500 mark on the season and have gone just 4-6 in their last 10 games, losing three out of four to the Texas Rangers at home, and still hold a 5.5-game lead over the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins in the American League Central.
The Tigers have won 14 of their 21 road games this season. Oakland is also a very good road team this season, going 18-10. But by the Bay the Athletics have won 12 of their 22 games and will send Tommy Milone to the mound. The Oakland lefty starter lost his first five starts to the season and the Athletics dropped all five of his starts to open the year as well. Milone picked up a win over the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays so far this season, allowing just two earned runs combined in those games.
Milone will look to spin a solid game against the Tigers. He's 2-0 against Detroit the past few seasons in three starts while allowing just six earned runs in more than 16 innings. At home, MIllone has been very solid as well, holding a 1.80 ERA in three starts despite holding a 1-0 record with 20 innings pitched. Milone has allowed opponents to hit just .174 against him in home games.
Drew Smyly will get the ball for the Tigers. The youngster was given the fifth and final rotation spot for Detroit after Doug Fister was shipped away via trade this off season. Smyly has also come out of the bullpen at times this season as well, but spending time on the mound by starting a game has helped the Tigers, even though they are 4-5 in games he has pitched. In his most recent start Smyly threw 110 pitches against Cleveland, which ended up being a no decision on the road, allowing three earned runs in five innings.
Detroit has been struggling lately, losing six of their last seven games overall. They've been swept by the Cleveland Indians and got beat up by the Texas Rangers. The offense hasn't been great, but Detroit has some very professional hitters on the team that will break out of this funk.
With Detroit being solid on the road, however, it's worth a look at the Tigers in this one. But we will take the Oakland A's in this game.
Free Pick: Oakland 5, Detroit 3
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