Detroit at Minnesota MLB Betting Prediction & Game Info

The AL Central is a beautiful mess with only a couple of game separating first place from last. The Detroit Tigers visit the Minnesota Twins in Game 2 of an AL Central series on Saturday and the Tigers will be pro baseball betting favorites in a matchup of young pitchers.

Detroit at Minnesota MLB Betting Prediction & Game Info

.@JustinVerlander takes the mound when we begin a three-game series vs. the Twins at 8:10 ET. Preview ➡️ https://t.co/c22R5q8OpL pic.twitter.com/p1eO6bc4Ti

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 21, 2017

When: Saturday, April 22, 2:10 PM ET Where: Target Field, Minneapolis Probable pitchers (away/home): Matthew Boyd/Adalberto Mejia TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: Detroit / Minnesota Opening MLB Lines: Tigers favored by TBA

Why Bet On Detroit?

The Tigers could be down two starters here in outfielder Justin Upton and shortstop Jose Iglesias. Upton (forearm) missed a second straight game Thursday. Upton tested his bruised right forearm during pregame batting practice and didn’t feel well enough to give it a go. He’s been sidelined since a collision with the Rays’ Tim Beckham on Tuesday. Iglesias is still being evaluated for a possible concussion after taking a knee to the head in the ninth inning Wednesday while attempting to turn a double play. It seems like he will go on the DL. Iglesias was hurt during what looked as if it would be a game-saving double play for the Tigers and a 7-6 victory. Logan Morrison’s ground ball, with one out and the bases loaded, was grabbed by second baseman Ian Kinsler, who whipped a relay to Iglesias at the second-base bag. Iglesias, though, scraped the inside of the bag with his right foot and stumbled, letting fly with a wide relay as he dropped to the  ground. The ball skidded beyond first baseman Miguel Cabrera and two Rays runners scored for an 8-7 victory. The runner at first, Brad Miller, sliding into second in a bid to break up the double play, caught Iglesias’ jaw with his knee. It’s Matthew Boyd (2-1, 3.77) on the mound here. Last time out, Boyd allowed just one run over six innings against the Indians, his second straight stellar start. Cleveland’s only run off Boyd came in the sixth, when Michael Brantley and Edwin Encarnacion singled in consecutive at-bats and then pulled off a double steal. Jose Ramirez then brought Brantley home with a sacrifice fly to left field. “The changeup kind of took the sting out of our bats. Sneaky fastball. Real good changeup. He could throw it any time, any count. And it’s a good one,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Boyd. Boyd gets a rematch with the Twins after tossing six scoreless innings of one-hit ball against them April 11 at Comerica Park. Despite a slider that wasn’t working, he mixed fastballs and changeups for six strikeouts.

Why Bet On Minnesota?

The Twins are pleased with how Tyler Duffey has improved as a reliever this season after moving from the rotation. Duffy hasn’t been scored upon yet in four relief appearances. Duffey, who posted a 6.43 ERA in 26 starts last year, has struck out seven and walked one, while allowing five hits to the 33 batters he’s faced. His stuff is also playing up in the bullpen, as he’s seen his velocity tick up while increasing his spin rates on his fastball and curveball. Duffey’s average fastball velocity has jumped from 90.99 mph to 93.3 mph, while the spin rate on his fastball has increased from 2,177 RPMs to 2,404 RPMs, which ranks third on the team behind Ryan Pressly and Adalberto Mejia. Duffey’s curveball is seeing the same change, going from 2,421 RPMs to 2,533 RPMs, which is also third on the team. Miguel Sanó has reached safely in 13 of 14 games played this season (0-for- 5 April 16 vs. CWS). He leads the club in home runs (4), RBI (13), runs (12) and walks (12). Sano is one of four players in baseball with double-digits in RBI, runs and walks, joining Seattle’s Mitch Haniger, New York’s Yoenis Cespedes and Washington’s Bryce Harper. It’s rookie lefty Adalberto Mejia (0-1, 4.05) on the mound. He was supposed to pitch Wednesday vs. the Indians but that was rained out. It'll be made up with a day-night doubleheader on June 17. The team decided to push Mejia back a couple of days. Mejia took a step forward in his second career start last week, tossing five innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts against the White Sox. This will be Mejia’s first start against anyone but the White Sox.

Detroit at Minnesota MLB Betting Pick: Detroit Tigers

Boyd already dominated the Twins once, no reason he can’t again.