Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles Free Preview 04/29/18

The Baltimore Orioles will play host to the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is in line to televise this AL matchup and the action gets going at 1:05 p.m. ET.

Detroit Tigers at Baltimore Orioles Odds

Detroit (+140) is entering this game as the underdog to Baltimore (-150) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this game at 9 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total stand at +105 for the over and -125 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds coming in at Tigers +1.5 runs (-155) and Orioles +-1.5 runs (+135).

The Tigers have gone 11-14 SU this year and are 12-12 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.0 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 0.9 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Orioles, on the other hand, are 7-20 SU and 9-17 ATS. They’ve lost 10.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.1 units ATS. Baltimore has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven outings and the under has hit in four of those seven.

Orioles games have an over/under record of 11-14-1 thus far in 2018. The Tigers have an over/under record of 11-13.

Southpaw Daniel Norris is the probable starter for the visiting Tigers. Norris is 0-1 with a 4.85 ERA and 16 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Orioles this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.

The Orioles will turn to righty Kevin Gausman (1-2, 4.66 ERA), who has 26 strikeouts and seven walks as well as a WHIP of 1.31. Gausman is 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA in one start against Detroit this year.

As a unit, Baltimore’s pitchers have allowed 5.5 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have an ERA of 5.49, a WHIP of 1.58 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.0. The bullpen has a 4.24 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 8.4 K/9.

Baltimore’s hitters are putting up 3.4 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game over its last 10 games and 4.2 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .262/.322/.435 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.

The Orioles’ offense has been led by Manny Machado and Pedro Alvarez. Machado is hitting .358/.438/.679 with nine home runs, 22 RBIs and 14 runs scored, and Alvarez is batting .218 with four homers, 10 RBIs and 10 runs.

Machado performed well against left-handed pitching at home last year, slashing .300/.345/.588 over 87 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .260/.311/.473).

In the other dugout, Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.96 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 6.97 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.76, along with a K-per-9 of 7.87.

The Tigers offense has slashed .254/.320/.413 on its way to 4.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 6.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).

Detroit’s hitters have been powered by first baseman Miguel Cabrera and third baseman Jeimer Candelario. Cabrera is slashing .333/.422/.540 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Candelario is hitting .270/.348/.510 with four homers, 11 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

Cabrera seemed to have a little trouble hitting righty pitching on the road last year, maintaining a slash line of .180/.274/.262 across 208 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .249/.329/.397).

The Tigers have lost 1.3 units and are 11-10 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in eight of those games, compared to 13 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Orioles have lost 3.3 units and are 3-5 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in four of those games, compared to three that went under.

Detroit Tigers at Baltimore Orioles Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Orioles, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER