Detroit Tigers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Preview
Where: Chase Field – Phoenix, AZ
When: Thursday, May 9, 2017 – 9:40 PM ET
Line: Detroit Tigers (-106) at Arizona Diamondbacks (-104); total: 8.5 – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: FS-A / FS-D
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Betting on the Detroit Tigers (15-15)
The last three weeks have been a little up-and-down for the Tigers. Beginning April 18th, they lost four, won three, lost four again, and then won three in a row again, and then went on to drop three of their next four, which brings them to tomorrow’s contest. How’s that for inconsistency?
Nevertheless, it’s Justin Verlander who will draw the start this Tuesday – he will be matching up with the Diamondbacks for only the third time in his career. Though he’s just 2-2 with a 4.65 ERA in six starts this season, Arizona’s batters aren’t threatening as well, as they are only 10-for-47 against him overall (.212 batting average), with no homers, three walks, and 19 strikeouts.
Verlander’s pitching and the team’s overall fielding will once again be a key, since they can’t do a lot offensively. They are only 19th in the league in hits and home runs, and their top eight hitters are all batting below .280.
Detroit is 12-8 in Verlander’s last 20 starts.
Betting on the Arizona Diamondbacks (18-15)
The Diamondbacks will enter the game having lost four of their last five. They are only batting .174 in that span, and in each of those defeats, they got held to two runs or less.
It’s not good now, but we should see these guys return to form soon enough. They are still one of the most productive clubs today, ranking inside the top four in runs, hits, and RBIs, while also leading the league in stolen bases.
Arizona has six batters with 30 or more hits, and four of them are batting .297 or better. The top three of that list – AJ Pollock, Paul Goldschmidt, and Chris Owings – are combining for 26 SBs, which places them in the top six of the category.
Robbie Ray is the D’Backs’ probable starter for Tuesday. The fourth-year pitcher, who started his career with the Tigers in 2014, is 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in six starts this season. His previous appearance was the 2-1 loss to the Nats in May 3rd, where he only gave up two runs on four hits and one walk across six innings. He retired 10.
Arizona is 4-1 in Ray’s last five starts at home.
Writer’s Prediction
The D’Backs (-104) take it, 5-3.
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