Anibal Sanchez (3-7, 5.69 ERA) and Jon Lester (4-4, 3.86 ERA) start in the first of a two-game series between the Detroit Tigers (30-28) and the Chicago Cubs (30-25) at Comerica Park. Action begins at 7:08 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jun. 9 and can be seen on CSN-CHI and FSN-DET.
Sanchez is 2-2 with a 4.55 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts against the Cubs. Yoenis Cespedes (.300, 31 Rs, 8 HRs, 30 RBIs, 3 SBs) had another good game Sunday, going 3 for 4 with one run, one home run, and two RBIs. Lester is 2-4 with a 4.83 ERA when pitching against the Tigers. He takes on a good Detroit offense which is hitting .272 this season. Anthony Rizzo (.332, 33 Rs, 11 HRs, 35 RBIs, 10 SBs) has been successful at the plate for the Cubs, going 2 for 4 Sunday with two runs.
Chicago is a narrow -108 favorite over Detroit. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently seven runs. The Tigers have an overall money line of -110 and a record as the underdog of 11-11. Detroit has recorded a disappointing 1-4 record as the underdog over its last 10 games. The Tigers have seen a decline in scoring against teams in the NL, averaging 3.3 runs per game. They average 4.1 runs per game on the season. Detroit is one of the best in the MLB in terms of steals, swiping 46 bases. Detroit’s pitching staff has been doing poorly against opposing offenses during the last 10 games, allowing an average of 5.3 runs per game, well above its season average of 4.2.
In games where it is the favorite, Chicago has a 18-14 record and an overall money line of +196. Chicago is 1-1 as the favorite and 1-1 SU against interleague opponents. Offensively, they average four runs per game on the road, which is third in the NL. The Cubs are an excellent base stealing team with 45 stolen bases, ranking fifth in the MLB. When it comes to preventing batters from getting on base, the Cubs are one of the best in the league with a WHIP of 1.20 for the season. The Cubs have established a reputation of overwhelming hitters with an NL-best 8.8 strikeouts per game.
The Tigers have a 9-6 record against left-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Lester takes the mound. Sanchez (RHP) will be on the hill against the Cubs, who have a 25-21 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – CHC, O/U – Over
Notes
When the Cubs play into extra innings, they have a 6-2 record. The Tigers are 3-2 when their games exceed nine innings.
The Cubs are coming into this game after allowing zero walks during their last outing. The Tigers have a 2-1 record when opponents give up that many walks.
When they outhit their opponents, the Tigers are 26-7. The Cubs have an 18-3 record when outhitting opponents.
Ranking 21st in runs, Chicago has earned 222 this season. Detroit ranks 14th with 239 runs.
Ranking seventh, Detroit is in the top 10 of the league in walks, notching 184 this season. Chicago ranks in the top five at third with 190.
The Tigers are 21-8 when they hit at least one home run. The Cubs perform similarly when they hit one or more homers with a 19-12 record.
