Detroit’s Pitching Staff Will Be Good Enough To Win Series

Tigers vs Rangers Series Preview: Detroit's Already Favorites For Today's Road Game

The Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers are both 29-30 heading into this new three-game series. We’ll see if one of these teams can finish Wednesday above .500.

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Although both teams have the same record, the Texas Rangers are in a better spot. Ultimately, Texas is just four games out of the AL West, behind the Seattle Mariners. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers are in fourth place in the MLB American League Central and ten games back from first place.

Both teams are tied in the AL Wild Card, but a losing record would make it difficult for them to qualify for the playoffs.

  • In Game 1 of this series, the Tigers are favorites on the road at -110, with the Rangers sitting at +100. The total is at 7.5, but the “over” is juiced to -115.

We’ll take a look at Game 1 and the other two games in our Tigers vs Rangers series preview below.

Tigers logoDetroit Tigers vs Texas RangersRangers logo

📊Records: Detroit Tigers (29-30), Texas Rangers (29-30)
📍Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
⏰Day/Time: Monday, June 3rd, 8:05 p.m. ET
📺Streaming: Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Detroit

Spencer Torkelson Optioned To Toledo

Some MLB news and rumors were released over the weekend. The No. 1 overall pick in 2020, Spencer Torkelson, has been optioned to Toledo in a stunning move to begin June.

Torkelson showed some flashes of his power last season, but he has only hit a .201 average with four home runs this season.

He’s only 24 years old, but he hit a .683 OPS in 323 games in his MLB career.

Max Scherzer’s Closer to a Return

Texas Rangers’ ace and former Cy Young winner, Max Scherzer, felt good during his recent bullpen sessions on Saturday. As long as he feels alright a couple of days later, he’ll follow the next steps to return to the mound.

Soon enough, he’ll be back on the Texas Rangers roster.

Tigers vs Rangers Series Preview & Odds For Game 1:

RL: Tigers -1.5 (+155) ML: Tigers -110, O/U 7.5 -115/-105


⚾ Game 1⚾

Monday, 8:05 pm ET
Tarik Skubal vs Nathan Eovaldi

In the first game of the series, we’ve got a really good pitching matchup. It’ll be Tarik Skubal on the mound for the Tigers. This season, the left-handed Tigers pitcher has a 7-1 ERA with a 2.01 ERA. Skubal is deep into the mix to win the AL Cy Young Award.

He’s added 31.1% of strikeouts this season. But in addition, he’s limited walks and has held teams to a .091 ISO and wOBA of .219.

These numbers are elite, and he’s facing a Rangers lineup that hasn’t been elite against lefties in the last 30 days. The Rangers’ projected lineup has hit a .109 ISO and wOBA of .305 with nearly 25% of strikeouts over the last month against lefties. Only Marcus Semien and Corey Seager have put up respectable numbers.

On the other hand, it’ll be veteran righty Nathan Eovaldi for Texas. Eovaldi has limited teams to a .140 ISO and wOBA of .297. He’s also induced 51.8% of ground balls and hasn’t allowed more than 23% of fly balls and line drives this season.

He’s got a more difficult matchup against the Tigers. The projected lineup for Detroit has hit a .204 ISO and wOBA of .329. The Tigers ultimately have five power bats and six batters with a wOBA of at least .321.

While this game should get Under the total, backing Detroit (-110) on the road makes the most sense.

⚾ Game 2 ⚾

Tuesday, 8:05 pm ET
Jack Flaherty vs Dane Dunning

On Tuesday, it’ll be Jack Flaherty getting the ball. Flaherty has added 34% of strikeouts this season and has kept walks to 3.8%. While Flaherty will get caught with allowing extra-base hits at a higher rate, he’s still limited teams to a .290 wOBA with 46.3% of ground balls. Even if Flaherty allows some power, it’ll most likely come without guys on base.

That said, the Rangers’ offense has still been lackluster, even against right-handed pitching over the last 30 days.

Meanwhile, Dane Dunning will get the call for the Rangers. Dunning has tallied 27.7% of strikeouts this season. But he’s also allowed a .240 ISO and wOBA of .336 to his first 88 lefties this season. Lefties have hit 34.7% of fly balls against him this year.

That’s encouraging for the Tigers, who, again, have lots of power in their lineup over the last 30 days against righties.

We’d back the Tigers in the second game of the season. The Texas Rangers standings wouldn’t look so great heading into Game 3 of the series. However, a Detroit win would push them above .500 with another game to play on Wednesday.

⚾ Game 3 ⚾

Wednesday, 8:05 pm ET
Kenta Maeda vs Jose Urena

In the series finale, Kenta Maeda will throw for the Tigers. He’s been the weakest link for the rotation this season. Not only does he have a 6.25 ERA, but Maeda also has allowed a .267 ISO and wOBA of .380 with just 17.1% of strikeouts recorded this season.

While the Rangers have been below average offensively over the last 30 days, this matchup is still favorable for the Rangers.

Maeda will face Jose Urena of the Rangers, who has struggled more against righties as a right-handed pitcher. That said, he’s only added 15.7% of strikeouts this season and has allowed 24.1% of line drives with over 49% of hard contact against righties.

This is easily the worst pitching matchup of the series. Therefore, we’d back the Over to close out our Tigers vs Rangers series preview.

For MLB predictions, betting analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.


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