The Baltimore Orioles were one of the first teams to clinch their division this season, while the Detroit Tigers had to sweat it out until the final day. As their American League Division Series begins on Thursday, will the O’s have the advantage of gaining some extra rest or will the Tigers’ sharpness amid their prolonged playoff chase allow them to steal the series opener in Baltimore?
Over in the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers are also busy preparing for their division series. Prep yourself as well with our complete preview of that series which you can find here, and read on for more on the Tigers vs. Orioles.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles ALDS Betting Preview
Series Schedule & Results
Game 1 – Thursday, October 2, Detroit Tigers -125 vs. Baltimore Orioles +115; total 7.0 – view all MLB lines
Game 2 – Friday, October 3, Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles
Game 3 – Sunday, October 5, Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers
Game 4* – Monday, October 6, Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers
Game 5* – Wednesday, October 8, Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles
*If necessary
Betting on the Detroit Tigers
[sc:MLB240banner ]It came right down to the final game of the season, but the Detroit Tigers just edged out the Kansas City Royals to claim their fourth consecutive AL Central crown. And after spending the past few weeks essentially in playoff mode in order to avoid the dreaded wild card playoff, you’d figure the Tigers should roll into this series opener sharp.
Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, the Tigers’ very dangerous one-two punch in the order, will certainly be as sharp as ever heading into the playoffs. Martinez batted a blistering .378 in September, his highest single-month average this season, while Cabrera matched his season-high in home runs in a single month with eight.
The two have also had some significant success in past matchups against the Orioles’ Game 1 starter, Chris Tillman. Cabrera is a career 5-for-13 hitter against him with a home run and four RBI, while Martinez is four-for-10 with two RBI.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus has yet to officially announce his own Game 1 starter, but it’s likely to be reigning Cy Young Max Scherzer. If Scherzer does go, he’ll be starting on two extra days’ rest after making his last start against the Twins on Sept. 25. Despite issuing four walks, Scherzer threw six innings and gave up two runs as the Tigers won the fifth consecutive game he’s started.
However, Scherzer gave up just one home run last September, his lowest month-long total of the season, heading into his matchup against a powerful Orioles lineup reliant on the long ball.
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Betting on the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles completely owned the AL East this season, winning it by a dozen games to claim their first division crown since 1997. However, the O’s haven’t played a meaningful game since clinching the title over two weeks ago. They went 5-6 the rest of the way, and dropped three of their last four. Just how ready they’ll be for their playoff opener remains to be seen.
But based on their September stats, the O’s big bats still have their swings relatively intact. Nelson Cruz, the majors’ only 40-homer hitter this season, knocked in five RBI in his last nine games, while All-Star centerfielder Adam Jones had two homers and five RBI in his last four.
The two stars have also shined with some favorable numbers against Max Scherzer. Cruz is eight-for-21 with a homer and four RBI, while Adam Jones is batting .500 in 18 at-bats with a homer and two RBI.
The O’s won’t have the big bat of Chris Davis, who’s suspended throughout the playoffs because of taking a banned substance, but Steve Pearce has filled in nicely at first base. The 31-year-old veteran, who had previously played in the corner outfield spots, had a sparkling 1.149 OPS in 17 games last month.
Orioles Game 1 starter Chris Tillman was anything but sparkling in his last start of the year, giving up four runs on 11 hits in six innings of work to the Toronto Blue Jays. But in his 10 starts prior, Tillman had pitched lights out with an ERA of 1.79. The O’s won all 10 of those games, with Tillman taking the decision in six of them.
Writer’s Prediction
The O’s lineup knocks Scherzer out early while Tillman holds the Tigers bats at bay as Baltimore takes Game 1 at home.
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