jimmythegreek
The opening odds start here
Cleveland/Detroit over 5 even:
The Indians (35-33) opened up their 3 game series with Detroit (25-41) last night at Comerica Park by pounding the Tigers 13-4. Jake Bauer went 4 for 5 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored, including the first Indian to hit for the cycle in almost 3 years since Rajai Davis on July 2nd, 2016. Bauers was one of 6 Indians with at least 2 hits last night. Leonys Martin belted a 3 run HR, his 9th of the season while Bauers cracked his 8th highlighting an 8 run 4th inning. The Indians sent 13 men to the plate that inning, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 10-3 advantage. The first six batters of the inning reached base. Adam Plutko (3-1) allowed two earned runs and five hits in six innings for Cleveland, walking one and striking out 6, Ryan Carpenter (1-4) threw 92 pitches but only lasted three-plus innings. He allowed six earned runs, eight hits and four walks. the fourth place Tigers dropped to 11-22 at home and fell 20 games behind AL Central leading Minnesota. Cleveland remains 11 games out in second place and improved to 15-16 overall away from Progressive Field.
Detroit starts Gregory Soto (0-1 11.50) this evening making just his 4th overall appearance and second start of the season. The 24 year old southpaw rookie was hit hard in his last outing back on May 24th, giving up 5 earned on 6 hits in just 3 2/3 innings against the NY Mets, resulting in a no-decision and a game the Tigers won in a 9-8 slugfest. Soto, who has been jettisoned to double and triple A several times already this season, is searching for his first MLB victory. Detroit hasn;t done themselves many favors this season as evident of their 4.85 team ERA. Soto faces an Indians lineup batting just .229 overall, next to last in the AL ahead of only Toronto (.221). The Tribe are averaging 4.2 runs per contest and rank 12th in the AL with 82 HR. Carlos Santana (.289 14 42) is tops on the team in all 3 major offensive categories, and has now hit safely in 9 straight games (.303). Francisco Lindor (.303 11 25) is the only Cleveland player to hit north of .300 despite not enough at-bats to qualify among the league leaders. Lindor is hitting .308 over his last 6 games. Bauers (.222 8 26) snapped a 3 for 24 slump (.125) before last night's barrage. Roberto Perez (.238 11 27) is coming along after a slow start going 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and is batting .333 over his last 7 games. Martin (.206 9 19) is also battling a 3 for 23 slump despite on pace to eclipse last season's output.
Cleveland counters with Shane Bieber (5-2 4.07) who hasn't exactly been sharp but yet effective as he is receiving plenty of run support despite the high ERA. Bieber, also 24, is in his second season and registered a no decision in his last start against the Yankees, a contest the pinstripers won in extra innings 7-6. He gave up 5 runs on 5 hits in just an inning and 2/3 walking 2 and striking out 4. He faces a Tigers lineup batting just .231 overall and averaging a league low 3.6 runs per contest with only 59 HR. Miguel Cabrera (.286 4 29) whom hot seat manager Ron Gardenhire announced will be the DH for the remainder of the season, is just 2 for his last 16 (.125) and has hit just 23 HR since the start of the 2017 season. Nicholas Castellanos (.260 7 24) has battled trough inconsistency and injuries that has held down his numbers far behind his 2017 career highs. Jacoby Jones (.250 8 21) is one of the club's few bright spots, hitting safely in 5 of his last 6 (.305). Christin Stewart (.241 5 23) has battled several quadriceps injuries thus far and finds himself day-to-day in the Tigers lineup. Niko Goodrum (.238 6 18) broke a 2 for 22 (.091) slump last night with 2 hits.
We get a bargain of a price this evening at a venue in which about a decade ago clearly favored the pitchers before the fences were moved in. The ball carries well as we approach the summertime even in the twilight of downtown Detroit, despite a cathedral-like 420 straight away to dead center but only about 365 to the power alleys. Cool conditions are forecast tonight with temps around 70 but winds at around 15-20 MPH. Factor in a couple of struggling pitchers who are looking just to get on track with quality starts. Soto is looking to get off the schneid in his first season looking for his inaugural win. While not much has gone expected for Detroit offensively this season, they can look to break out of their doldrums against a less than stellar Bieber. The Tribe does have some clout throughout the lineup, and have a chance to extend the inconsistency and misery against Soto. We look to even up our record this evening. Best of luck however you play!
The Indians (35-33) opened up their 3 game series with Detroit (25-41) last night at Comerica Park by pounding the Tigers 13-4. Jake Bauer went 4 for 5 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored, including the first Indian to hit for the cycle in almost 3 years since Rajai Davis on July 2nd, 2016. Bauers was one of 6 Indians with at least 2 hits last night. Leonys Martin belted a 3 run HR, his 9th of the season while Bauers cracked his 8th highlighting an 8 run 4th inning. The Indians sent 13 men to the plate that inning, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 10-3 advantage. The first six batters of the inning reached base. Adam Plutko (3-1) allowed two earned runs and five hits in six innings for Cleveland, walking one and striking out 6, Ryan Carpenter (1-4) threw 92 pitches but only lasted three-plus innings. He allowed six earned runs, eight hits and four walks. the fourth place Tigers dropped to 11-22 at home and fell 20 games behind AL Central leading Minnesota. Cleveland remains 11 games out in second place and improved to 15-16 overall away from Progressive Field.
Detroit starts Gregory Soto (0-1 11.50) this evening making just his 4th overall appearance and second start of the season. The 24 year old southpaw rookie was hit hard in his last outing back on May 24th, giving up 5 earned on 6 hits in just 3 2/3 innings against the NY Mets, resulting in a no-decision and a game the Tigers won in a 9-8 slugfest. Soto, who has been jettisoned to double and triple A several times already this season, is searching for his first MLB victory. Detroit hasn;t done themselves many favors this season as evident of their 4.85 team ERA. Soto faces an Indians lineup batting just .229 overall, next to last in the AL ahead of only Toronto (.221). The Tribe are averaging 4.2 runs per contest and rank 12th in the AL with 82 HR. Carlos Santana (.289 14 42) is tops on the team in all 3 major offensive categories, and has now hit safely in 9 straight games (.303). Francisco Lindor (.303 11 25) is the only Cleveland player to hit north of .300 despite not enough at-bats to qualify among the league leaders. Lindor is hitting .308 over his last 6 games. Bauers (.222 8 26) snapped a 3 for 24 slump (.125) before last night's barrage. Roberto Perez (.238 11 27) is coming along after a slow start going 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and is batting .333 over his last 7 games. Martin (.206 9 19) is also battling a 3 for 23 slump despite on pace to eclipse last season's output.
Cleveland counters with Shane Bieber (5-2 4.07) who hasn't exactly been sharp but yet effective as he is receiving plenty of run support despite the high ERA. Bieber, also 24, is in his second season and registered a no decision in his last start against the Yankees, a contest the pinstripers won in extra innings 7-6. He gave up 5 runs on 5 hits in just an inning and 2/3 walking 2 and striking out 4. He faces a Tigers lineup batting just .231 overall and averaging a league low 3.6 runs per contest with only 59 HR. Miguel Cabrera (.286 4 29) whom hot seat manager Ron Gardenhire announced will be the DH for the remainder of the season, is just 2 for his last 16 (.125) and has hit just 23 HR since the start of the 2017 season. Nicholas Castellanos (.260 7 24) has battled trough inconsistency and injuries that has held down his numbers far behind his 2017 career highs. Jacoby Jones (.250 8 21) is one of the club's few bright spots, hitting safely in 5 of his last 6 (.305). Christin Stewart (.241 5 23) has battled several quadriceps injuries thus far and finds himself day-to-day in the Tigers lineup. Niko Goodrum (.238 6 18) broke a 2 for 22 (.091) slump last night with 2 hits.
We get a bargain of a price this evening at a venue in which about a decade ago clearly favored the pitchers before the fences were moved in. The ball carries well as we approach the summertime even in the twilight of downtown Detroit, despite a cathedral-like 420 straight away to dead center but only about 365 to the power alleys. Cool conditions are forecast tonight with temps around 70 but winds at around 15-20 MPH. Factor in a couple of struggling pitchers who are looking just to get on track with quality starts. Soto is looking to get off the schneid in his first season looking for his inaugural win. While not much has gone expected for Detroit offensively this season, they can look to break out of their doldrums against a less than stellar Bieber. The Tribe does have some clout throughout the lineup, and have a chance to extend the inconsistency and misery against Soto. We look to even up our record this evening. Best of luck however you play!