Detroit Tigers (15-18) vs. Cleveland Guardians (16-18)
May 9, 2023 6:10 pm EDT
The Line: Cleveland Guardians -233 / Detroit Tigers +175; Over/Under: +7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians meet Tuesday in MLB action from Progressive Field. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. In the Monday opener, the Tigers powered out a four-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers played the Cardinals over the weekend, winning two of the three games. On Monday versus Cleveland, Detroit scored three in the third inning and cruised to a 6-2 victory. Starter Joey Wentz lasted 5.2 frames with two earned on three hits and three walks.
For the starter job on Tuesday it’ll be Detroit’s Michael Lorenzen. In his four starts so far Lorenzen is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 21.0 innings. Lorenzen is 32-30 in his career with a 4.14 ERA in 317 games (48 starts).
Cleveland Guardians
Over on the Cleveland side, they played the Twins over the weekend and won two of three games as well. On Monday the Guardians were out-hit 13-6 in the defeat. Tanner Bibee posted 3.2 innings as starter with four earned, seven hits and four walks.
For starter duties on Tuesday it’ll be Shane Bieber. Over seven starts this year Bieber is 2-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 30 Ks in 45.2 innings. Bieber is 56-27 with a 3.16 career ERA in 120 games (118 starts).
The Tigers are 4-0 in their last four in game two of a series and 4-1 in their last five Tuesday games. Detroit is 3-7 in their last 10 road games versus a right-handed starter.
Meanwhile, the Guardians are 17-7 in their last 24 versus the AL Central and 2-6 in the last eight versus a team with a losing record. Cleveland is 1-5 in their last six in game two of a series.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll stay with Cleveland in this one. It’s too thick of a line to play around with, though. Bieber is pitching pretty well over his last two starts, with four earned on 10 hits and three walks in 15.0 combined innings. As for Lorenzen, he’s coming off one earned on four hits and two walks in 7.0 innings versus the Mets. On Monday in the opener of this series the Guardians had a pretty rough pitching outing overall and the offense couldn’t keep up either—no one had more than one hit. Cleveland’s going to need a big bounce-back effort here, and I think they’ll get it.
