The 2008 Major League Baseball season has not exactly started out well for the respective pitching aces of the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, but they will go head-to-head when the two wrap up a four-game series at Comerica Park on Thursday. BetOnline.com has the Boston Red Sox -124 odds favorites against the home town Detroit Tigers +114 and the over/under is set at 8.5 runs with -105 reduced juice.

27-year-old Josh Beckett (3-2, 4.19) has not been pitching at his usual high standards this season, and a preseason back problem is the likely reason for this. Beckett gave up four runs on seven hits over eight innings of a 12-4 victory over Tampa Bay, his third win of the season. Beckett has now gone at least seven innings in his past three starts, which leads most to believe he is starting feel better physically.

Beckett has also struck out at least five batters in each of his five starts this season, including 13 against the Rays in another contest. The 2003 World Series MVP has not faced the Tigers since 2006, when he was knocked for five runs on six hits over six innings of a 7-4 loss at home.

The Tigers will give the ball to 25-year-old Justin Verlander (1-5, 6.28), who has been the victim of some poor run support this season. Verlander allowed four runs on seven hits over seven innings, taking the loss as the Tigers fell 4-1 at Minnesota. Detroit's offense has managed to score more than two runs in only one of Verlander's six starts this season, and while the fourth-year righthander is extremely talented, it puts a lot of pressure on him when his team cannot score runs. Verlander won his lone start against the Red Sox in 2007, allowing a pair of runs on six hits over seven innings of a 7-2 win in Boston.

The Red Sox took the first two games of this series, and had won five games in a row as of Wednesday. Boston looks to be recovering their swagger of the past two years, and Beckett is a prime example of this. The Tigers have been wildly inconsistent, to say the least, and they are running into a hot Boston team at the wrong time. Take Beckett over Verlander as the Red Sox come away with the win on Thursday. Get your MLB Tip in Now !

Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers – 7:05 PM ET

Free MLB Tip: Boston Red Sox

For more props and odds on MLB baseball, as well as a look at our brand-new and revamped Casino, visit BetOnline.com for the most exciting experience in the sports betting industry.

---

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.