The Detroit Tigers (6-0) are wasting no time to make sure everybody knows that they remain a force to be reckoned with in the AL Central. The Tigers will look to keep their immaculate record intact when they play their first interleague series of the season against the Pittsburgh Pirates today.
The Pirates (2-4), who are about to make their home opener versus undefeated Detroit, are eyeing for their first back-to-back wins this season. Read on for more about this game below. You can also click here for a preview of the Red Sox-Nationals game.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
When: Monday, April 13, 2015, 1:35 PM ET
Line: Detroit Tigers (-105) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (-105); total: 7.0– view all MLB lines
Betting on the Detroit Tigers
After clobbering the Cleveland Indians on Sunday 8-5 to complete a three-game series sweep, Miguel Cabrera and the rest of the Tigers made it clear that they remain kings of the AL Central.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Cabrera has been on a tear over Detroit’s last three games, as he went off for an incredible 11-for-15 during that stretch. That includes his 4-for-4 (two homers, four RBIs) performance in the previous game against Cleveland. In six games played thus far this season, Cabrera has hit .520/.586/.840.
Cabrera aside, Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez are among other Tigers hitters who’ve been smashing it at the plate. Iglesias, who went 1-for-4 in Game 3 against the Indians, currently leads the team with a .526 batting average. Martinez, meanwhile, paces the team with three homers to go along with his .286 BA.
With that kind of offense behind him, Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez will come into today’s game against Pittsburgh with some extra confidence. The Tigers are tops in the majors in runs (39), batting average (.364), on-base percentage (.433), and second in slugging percentage (.538). The Tigers also lead the rest of MLB in run support with 7.8 runs per nine innings.
In his first start this season, Sanchez pitched for 6.2 innings, allowing zero runs and just three hits in Detroit’s 11-0 crushing victory over the Minnesota Twins on April 8. Detroit is 4-0 in Sanchez’s last four road starts.
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Betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates must be glad that they’re finally going to play at home after six games on the road to start the season. During that stretch, the Pirates won just two games, including their 10-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
Despite the early season struggles, the Pirates must be feeling good of their chances when they host the surging Tigers today. For one, they’re 4-0 in Detroit’s last four Steel City visits. In addition, Pittsburgh will have Gerrit Cole on the mound for the series-opener versus Detroit.
Cole has been a dependable starter for Pittsburgh last season, wherein he finished with an 11-5 record and a 3.65 ERA in 22 starts. In 23 career starts at PNC Park, Cole is 11-6 with a 3.57 ERA. Dating back to 2013, Pittsburgh is 13-3 in Cole’s last 16 home starts.
As for Pittsburgh’s hitters, Andrew McCutchen will lead the team in providing run support for Cole. After missing one game due to knee soreness, McCutchen went back to the lineup and hit 2-for-5 with a homer in Pittsburgh’s aforementioned win over Milwaukee. McCutchen is 4-for-14 (.286) in his career against Sanchez. Corey Hart, meanwhile, is even better when facing Sanchez, as he is 7-for-15 (.467) with two homers and 3 RBIs in his career opposite the Detroit pitcher.
Writer’s Prediction
Detroit (-105) wins, 5-2.
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