The Pirates will attempt to pull off an inter-league sweep of the Detroit Tigers this afternoon when the two teams wrap up their three game set in Pittsburgh. Today’s finale is scheduled to get underway at 1:35pm ET at PNC Park. The latest MLB Odds have the visiting Tigers, who will start last year’s CY Young winner, Justin Verlander, listed as a heavy -178 moneyline favorite. Pittsburgh is listed as a +158 moneyline play to pull off the upset.
When will this Pittsburgh Pirates team fade? Not before the All-Star break, if at all it would appear. The Pirates, now 38-32 overall and just a game out of first place in the NL Central, have won six of their last seven games and they have a chance to sweep Detroit today after taking the first two games of their inter-league set 4-1.
The Pirates Brad Lincoln limited the Tigers to two hits and one earned runs in yesterday’s game two clash; he also struck out seven in his six innings of work. His efforts meant Andrew McCutchen’s three run bomb in the bottom of the fourth were more than enough to get Pittsburgh the series.
Detroit, which fell to 34-37 with the loss (3.5 games behind the Indians in the AL Central), will look to get back on track with reigning AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander on the hill. Verlander’s numbers through 15 starts: 7-4 record, 2.57 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 106 strikeouts, 108.2 inning pitched. The seven year veteran, who has collected wins in his last two appearances (Tigers 3-0 in his last three starts), presided over a 6-3 win against the Cardinals his last time out. Verlander allowed five hits and one earned run and he gave up four walks while striking out three in seven innings of work.
Pittsburgh will take aim at the sweep with Kevin Correia on the mound. Correia comes in with a 3-6 record and 4.12 ERA, but he has been solid in three of his last five outings, including his last appearance which came against the Twins. The Cal Poly product allowed just four hits and no runs over 5.1 innings in a 7-2 victory over Minnesota. The Pirates are 4-1 in his last five starts.
MLB Odds Betting Trend: The Tigers are 7-1 over the last two seasons playing as a road favorite on a Sunday coming off a loss (Under is 7-1 in same eight games).
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MLB Picks 2012 Detroit Tigers vs Pittsburgh Pirates: Provided by TopBet.com
Detroit Tigers -1.5 (-110), Over 7 (-115), -178 (Moneyline)
Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (-110), Under 7 (-105), +158 (Moneyline)
