The Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays find themselves in offensive ruts at exactly the wrong time, with both teams desperate to stay in playoff position as the MLB season draws towards its conclusion.
Want your daily fix of baseball action? Check out our MLB Free Picks for the best baseball games to bet on for the day, and read on as we breakdown the first game of the Tigers’ visit to Rogers Centre.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Major League Baseball, Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto
When: Friday, August 8, 7:07 PM ET
Line: Detroit Tigers (-122) at Toronto Blue Jays (+112); total 8.5 – see all MLB lines
Betting on the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers’ offense was nowhere to be seen in a 3-1 series loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday. They managed just six total runs over the four-game series while batting .173. They also struck out 35 times in the four-game stretch.
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Tigers will be in hot pursuit of a win, and they’re a decent bet to get it with Anibal Sanchez (8-5, 3.37 ERA) starting in the series opener against the Blue Jays. The 2013 AL ERA Champion previously shut down the Blue Jays’ offense on June 3, allowing just two hits while striking out five in seven scoreless innings. However, the Tigers failed to capitalize and wound up losing 5-3 after Sanchez exited the game.
Still, Sanchez remains a valuable asset coming into this game as he is 2-0 in his last three starts against the Blue Jays. The pitcher’s recent form has him primed for another quality start in Toronto. He allowed two hits while striking out a season-high 12 over seven innings against Colorado for a 4-0 shutout on Sunday.
Conversely, the Tigers’ batting remains a concern as Miguel Cabrera is struggling to find his form on the road. The first baseman started off 1-for-10 against the New York Yankees in the first four of a nine-game road trip. His slump will likely continue as he has hit only 2-for-11 in his career against the Blue Jays’ R.A. Dickey. Moreover, Cabrera has also only hit .143 with two home runs in 10 games at Rogers Center.
Torii Hunter’s hand injury will also hinder Detroit’s offense. Hunter is expected to miss his third-straight game after being hit by a pitch on Tuesday. The right fielder is 6-for-18 with five RBIs against Toronto’s Dickey.
The Detroit Tigers are 4-1 in their last five games in Toronto.
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Betting on the Toronto Blue Jays
After Thursday’s loss to the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto now finds itself 1-5 in the team’s last six games.
Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista will be one of Toronto’s main weapons coming into this series against the Tigers. The right fielder is batting .459 with three homers and six doubles in 12 career games against the Tigers in Toronto. However, he is 1 for 8 in his career against Detroit’s Sanchez. Bautista had hit 9-for-19 in August before going hitless against Baltimore on Thursday.
Toronto’s Melky Cabrera would have offset Bautista’s struggle against Sanchez as he is 10-for-21 against the Tigers’ right hander. However, Cabrera is considered day-to-day after being hit by a pitch on his right elbow on Thursday. Should Cabrera miss the series opener against the Tigers, an already-banged up Jays offense will be in tough.
The Blue Jays will be starting R.A. Dickey (9-11, 4.03 ERA). Dickey’s last start saw him surrender five runs in seven innings in a 8-2 loss to Houston. The Blue Jays’ starter has struggled at home, with a 6.63 ERA in his last three home starts.
Nevertheless, Dickey has won his last four starts with a 2.33 ERA against the Tigers.
Writer’s Prediction
The Detroit Tigers (-122) hit just enough to squeak by the Toronto Blue Jays.
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