The Tigers pulled off the upset last night, whipping the Rangers 8-2 in game one of their three game set. Tonight Detroit will go for the series win with Drew Smyly taking the ball. This evening’s potential series decider is scheduled for an 8:05pm ET start at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington; it will be broadcast live on the MLB Network. MLB Odds have Texas listed as a heavy -190 favorite to even the series at a game apiece. The Tigers are getting +165 odds to win their third consecutive game.
Detroit is still clawing its way back to the .500 mark, but it got within a game of the break even point last night by hammering the unsuspecting Rangers 8-2 in Arlington. The Tigers jumped all over Justin Grimm in the first inning, tagging the rookie hurler for eight hits and six earned runs. Miguel Cabrera led the offensive charge, finishing the game with three hits and three RBI.
The Tigers (36-37), who are two games back of the AL Central leading White Sox, will look to keep things rolling tonight with lefty Drew Smyly toeing the rubber. The 23 year old Arkansas native owns a respectable 3.96 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, but he has fallen on tougher times of late. Detroit is 2-5 in his last seven appearances with Smyly working an average of five innings and giving up an average of 3.3 earned runs. in those starts. The Tigers did get the win in his last outing, though, despite Smyly yielding four hits and three earned runs over three innings to the Reds.
Texas, which lost for just the second time in its last 10 games last night, fell to 45-29 with the ugly loss but its division lead is still a comfortable 4.5 games over the second place Angels in the AL West.
The Rangers will look to bounce back for yesterday’s setback with Yu Darvish on the hill. Darvish, who garnered a win in an April 19th start at Detroit (6.1 innings pitched, two hits, one earned run allowed), comes in with a 3.45 ERA and 9-4 record. The 25 year old right hander is making his seventh start at Rangers Ballpark (Texas is 6-0 in his six home starts this season) and he is coming off back-to-back tremendous outings. Darvish has gone eight inning in his last two appearances, allowing a mere 12 hits and four earned runs while striking out 19 batters.
MLB Picks Betting Trend: The Rangers are 11-0 over the last three years playing as a home favorite when their opponent scored eight runs against them in the last game (won those 11 games by an average of 4.5 runs per game).
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MLB Picks 2012 Detroit Tigers vs Texas Rangers: Provided by Bovada.lv
Detroit Tigers +1.5 (-135), Over 10 (-115), +165 (Moneyline)
Texas Rangers -1.5 (+105), Under 10 (-115), -190 (Moneyline)
