Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians Preview 4/17/08

MLB Betting Preview
Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians
Thursday, 7:05 pm Eastern

SBG Global Opening Line: Indians  - 123, Total 9 Under -120

 

The Detroit Tigers have started to play well since manager Jim Leyland threw a tirade last weekend. They will now look to get pitcher Justin Verlander on track as they face the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.  Verlander is 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA this season.  He has pitched a little bit better than his numbers indicate though.  He allowed only one run on two hits in seven innings last Saturday but lost control in the 8^th inning and was charged with six runs before the inning was over. SBG Global reports that early MLB betting has the public taking Indians at Home .

 

The Indians will go with Fausto Carmona on Thursday.  Carmona is 1-1 on the year with an ERA of 2.20.  He had pitched well until losing control against Oakland last Saturday when we walked a career-high 8 hitters. In eight career outings against Detroit, Carmona is 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA

 

The matchup between the Tigers and the Indians was expected to be between the top two teams in the Central Division and maybe by the time the season it will be but that is not the case now.  The Tigers have really struggled but Cleveland has not played much better. “We want to try to win as many we can,” Detroit reliever Todd Jones said. “We’re so far behind the 8-ball with the losses, we’ve got our work cut out for us.” Detroit is finally starting to hit the ball and if their pitching gets straightened out it may not take the Tigers long to get back on track. “Not that we want to get down,” manager Jim Leyland said, “but we feel like our offense is capable of striking at any time, and strike kind of big from time to time.”

SBG Global Current Line: Indians  - 113, Total 9 Under -120

 

The Indians haven’t done nearly as well as expected to start the season but with the Tigers’ slow start the Indians struggles haven’t been as well documented. “When we hit, we don’t pitch. When we pitch, we don’t hit,” first baseman Ryan Garko said. “I just think we’ve got to be consistent in all phases of the game.”

 

Here are the MLB betting stats for Thursday’s game.  The Tigers are 4-10 in their last 14 games on grass. The Tigers are 3-8 in their last 11 vs. the American League Central. The Tigers are 3-9 in their last 12 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Tigers are 2-6 in their last 8 games as a road underdog. The Tigers are 3-9 in their last 12 road games. The Tigers are 2-8 in their last 10 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Tigers are 22-5 in Verlander’s last 27 starts vs. a team with a losing record. The Tigers are 6-2 in Verlander’s last 8 Thursday starts. The Tigers are 2-5 in Verlander’s last 7 road starts. The Tigers are 0-4 in Verlander’s last 4 starts. The Tigers are 0-4 in Verlander’s last 4 starts vs. the American League Central. The Over is 6-0 in Verlander’s last 6 starts vs. the Indians. The Tigers are 1-4 in Verlander’s last 5 road starts vs. the Indians.

 

The Indians are 13-6 in their last 19 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Indians are 48-23 in their last 71 vs. American League Central. The Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 Thursday games. The Indians are 1-5 in their last 6 games as a home favorite. The Indians are 1-5 in their last 6 games on grass. The Indians are 1-5 in their last 6 overall. The Indians are 1-7 in their last 8 games as a favorite. The Indians are 4-0 in Carmona’s last 4 home starts vs. a team with a losing record. The Indians are 6-1 in Carmona’s last 7 starts as a home favorite. The Indians are 13-3 in Carmona’s last 16 starts vs. the American League Central. The Indians are 8-2 in Carmona’s last 10 starts as a favorite. The Indians are 10-3 in Carmona’s last 13 starts. The Indians are 9-3 in Carmona’s last 12 starts on grass. The Indians are 4-1 in Carmona’s last 5 starts vs. the Tigers.

 

The Under is 4-1 in the Tigers last 5 Thursday games. The Under is 7-3 in the Tigers last 10 road games. The Under is 5-1-2 in Verlander’s last 8 road starts vs. a team with a losing record. The Over is 8-2 in Verlander’s last 10 Thursday starts. The Over is 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 starts as a road underdog. The Over is 12-3-2 in Verlander’s last 17 starts vs. the American League Central. The Over is 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 starts as an underdog.

 

The Under is 5-2 in the Indians last 7 vs. the American League Central. The Over is 27-13-2 in the Indians last 42 Thursday games. The Over is 5-0 in Carmona’s last 5 starts overall. The Over is 4-0 in Carmona’s last 4 starts as a favorite. The Under is 8-2 in Carmona’s last 10 starts vs. a team with a losing record. The Under is 8-2 in Carmona’s last 10 starts vs. the American League Central.

 

Take the Red Hot Tigers as a dog against the cold Indians 3units.