Justin Verlander will get another chance to improve upon his incredible interleague record when the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers host the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Tigers and Dodgers are the odds-on favorites to win the World Series. You can see those odds in our MLB Futures page. Could we be witnessing a World Series preview tonight? Preview tonight’s top action with our daily MLB Free Picks, and read on for more on this terrific interleague matchup.
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Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Detroit Tigers, Major League Baseball, Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit
When: July 8, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Dodgers (+108) vs. Detroit Tigers (-118); total 8.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
After taking three games out of four against the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Dodgers keep their show on the road when they visit the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 on the road and have won nine of their last 10 on the road vs. AL teams.
[sc:Other240banner ]L.A.’s high-powered offense, which ranks seventh in the MLB in runs and third in hits, scored 27 runs in the four games in Colorado. The All-Star duo of Dee Gordon and Yasiel Puig were a lethal one-two punch from the top of the order as they combined for 11 hits in the series. The red-hot Gordon is currently hitting .455 in July, while All-Star starter Puig has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games.
That Dodger lineup will look to provide the ever-consistent Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-4, 3.08 ERA) with some run support. The Korean right-hander has gone six-plus innings and surrendered four or less runs in his last nine starts. But despite going seven strong innings in his last two games, the Dodgers scored a total of just four runs while he was still in the game.
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Betting on the Detroit Tigers
Shortly after sweeping the Oakland A’s in three games at home, the Detroit Tigers dropped three of their next four against the Tampa Bay Rays. They’ll look to snap their three-game losing streak with ace Justin Verlander set to take the mound against the Dodgers.
Verlander (7-7, 4.71 ERA) is having a terrible season by his lofty standards, but he’s showing signs of returning to his old self. He’s gone six-plus innings and has given up three or less runs in his last three starts, a marked improvement from the form that saw him give up 19 runs in the previous three starts.
Verlander should get back to his best during interleague play, where he has been historically dominant. The 2011 MVP is 22-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 29 career interleague starts, including an 11-0 mark and 1.78 ERA in the last 13. He’s even better at home, with a 13-0 record and 1.83 ERA in 14 starts at Comerica Park. The Tigers as a team have won 13 of their last 15 interleague home games.
However, Verlander will need his offense, especially Miguel Cabrera, to snap out of its recent funk. The reigning two-time MVP has only six hits and one HR in his last 10 games. Meanwhile, designated hitter Victor Martinez is still struggling with the back injury that has kept him out of the lineup for five out of the last seven games.
Writer’s Prediction
A resurgent Verlander shuts down the Dodger bats, while the Tigers scrap enough runs to grab the victory. Take Detroit (-118) over L.A. at home.
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