In this week’s Sunday Night Baseball betting preview, divisional rivals Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians are squaring off. However, their performances so far this season have been quite different. The Tigers are currently nine games back of the division leader, the Indians. However, the Indians must continue to play at a high level, as their division lead is only 2.5 games over the Twins and three games over the Royals.
Heading into this contest, the Indians have finally been playing like the team we thought they’d be. They were among the World Series favorites heading into the season but things haven’t really panned out that way. They were just 31-31 in the middle of June but have kicked things up a notch in July. Since the middle of June, the Indians are a healthy 16-8. That includes wins in the first two games of this series.
As for the Tigers, they’re a fading commodity. They haven’t been better than a couple games over .500 at any point in the season but are now in a big funk. Since starting 28-28, they are 10-20 in their last 30 games. That’s why they’re a big underdog for this Sunday Night matchup.
Details
Date – Sunday July 9th, 2017
Time – 8:00PM EST
Line – CLE -212
Why The Tigers Might Win
After winning the Rookie of the Year Award last season and being recently selected for the All-Star Game, Michael Fulmer is making quite a name for himself. Fulmer has been one of the most reliable starting pitchers for the Tigers, compiling an 8-6 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and only six home runs allowed in 109.2 innings pitched. Furthermore, Fulmer has allowed opponents to slash a measly .235/.283/.328. Fulmer has also pitched better on the road, with a 2.16 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and only two home runs allowed in 50.0 innings pitched. In his more recent performances over the last month, Fulmer has been even better – 2.67 ERA and 0.96 WHIP while allowing opponents to slash a putrid .190/.254/.286. To make things worse for the Indians, Fulmer has recorded four straight quality starts coming in to this matchup. If the Tigers’ offense can provide him with some run support, Fulmer should turn this game over to the bullpen with his team leading.
Why The Indians Might Win
The Indians are countering with their ace, Corey Kluber, on the mound for this matchup. Also being named to the All-Star team this year, Kluber has been absolutely lights out so far this season. Kluber has compiled a 7-3 record with a 2.85 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and an elite 11.7 K/9 rate. Opponents are only slashing .204/.254/.329 against Kluber – the Tigers are in for trouble. A mirror image of Fulmer, Kluber has actually pitched much better at home, going 5-1 so far with a 2.60 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and an absurd 13.2 K/9 rate. To make things worse for the Tigers, Kluber has been nearly unhittable in the past month – 0.92 ERA, an unworldly 0.59 WHIP, 12.9 K/9 rate, and only one home run allowed in 39.0 innings pitched while allowing opponents to slash .136/.174/.197. However, since allowing five earned runs in only 3.0 innings pitched against the Tigers two months ago, Kluber has recorded seven straight quality starts since that blowup. Expect Kluber to not repeat his last performance against the Tigers.
Outlook
Although Fulmer has been good so far this year, Kluber has been great. Kluber is clearly getting into his zone and he has been on an absolute tear in his last seven starts. He has allowed zero or one earned runs in four straight starts coming into this matchup. You can also bet that Kluber will have more of an incentive to shut down the Tigers ever since they rocked him in his last start against them. This matchup should be a low scoring affair, with two extremely reliable starting pitchers on the mound. Kluber and the Indians should pull out a win in this game, albeit by only one or two runs.
If you’re not interested in all of the juice here, another option is to go with the under. We should see a decent pitcher’s duel in this spot along with a low-scoring game.
Pick: Indians -212
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