Oakland Hosts Detroit on Saturday as Pro Baseball Underdogs

Oakland Hosts Detroit on Saturday as Pro Baseball Betting Underdogs

Written by on May 5, 2017

The Detroit Tigers just completed a so-so homestand and now head out for one of their longest road trips of the season, nine games through California and Arizona. The Tigers are coming off a 3 game series against the Cleveland Indians, winning at 2-1. For the Athletics, it wasn’t the same situation. They’re coming off a 1-2 series against the Minnesota Twins. It’s game No. 2 of a three-game set in Oakland on Saturday night. The Tigers should be slight MLB betting favorites.

Click Here for More MLB Betting Odds

Detroit at Oakland Pro Baseball Preview & Betting Analysis

When: Saturday, May 6, 9:05 PM ET Where: Oakland Coliseum Probable pitchers (away/home): Jordan Zimmermann/Jesse Hahn TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv RadioDetroit / Oakland Opening MLB Lines: Tigers favored by TBA

Why Bet On Detroit?

Outfielder JaCoby Jones (lip) will not accompany the Tigers on their West Coast road trip. Jones should meet up with the club at some point next week, but he’ll continue his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo in the meantime. The 24-year- old has been on the disabled list since taking a pitch to his upper lip on April 22. Fellow outfielder J.D. Martinez is continuing to DH in extended spring training games. He still hasn’t been cleared to run the bases or play the outfield, though that should be coming soon. The 29-year- old slugger will then head out on a minor league rehab assignment, which likely will last a week. Martinez has been on the disabled list all season because of a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot. The Tigers appear to have avoided an issue with excellent second baseman Ian Kinsler. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Thursday that Kinsler did not suffer a hamstring strain. Kinsler was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Indians after experiencing discomfort in his left hamstring, but it’s not considered a serious issue. It’s right-hander Jordan Zimmermann on the mound. Zimmermann (3-1, 6.18) allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks across five innings in Sunday’s win over the White Sox. He struck out five. Zimmermann struggled with his command at times, throwing just 58 percent of his pitches for strikes, and he was forced to navigate around trouble often. Still, he didn’t allow many significant rallies and had only allowed a pair of runs before a leadoff homer by Todd Frazier chased him from the game in the sixth inning. Zimmermann had surrendered five runs in three consecutive appearances prior to Sunday’s outing, but he took a step in the right direction. A tweak in Zimmermann’s delivery to go back to his Nationals days regained some old deceptiveness in his pitches.

Why Bet On Oakland?

The A’s are without catcher Josh Phegley as he’s on the seven-day concussion list. Phegley took a ball hard off his mask on Wednesday night and will be shut down completely for the next couple of days. Bruce Maxwell has been promoted from Triple-A Nashville to back up Stephen Vogt. Meanwhile, former closer Sean Doolittle has landed on the DL with a shoulder strain. Doolittle missed 59 games last season with a similar injury. In 2015, he was sidelined for 121 games with two different shoulder issues. The fact that his shoulder is hurting again is obviously a concern, and the A’s will act accordingly in a “fairly conservative” manner, A’s manager Bob Melvin said. Doolittle, who is in the fourth year of a five-year deal that includes club options for 2018-19, has allowed three runs in 7 2/3 innings for a 3.52 ERA this season. Santiago Casilla worked around a pair of walks to pick up his fifth save Thursday against the Twins. Casilla looks to be the long-term closer now with the news of more shoulder problems for Doolittle. Jesse Hahn (1-2, 2.53) goes for Oakland. Hahn yielded four runs — two earned — over six innings Sunday in a loss to the Astros. Hahn struck out six and walked none, but he gave up eight hits and was thoroughly out-dueled by Dallas Keuchel. Hahn has pitched well overall since officially rejoining the A’s rotation. Hahn has completed at least six innings in each of his four starts this season.

Detroit at Oakland MLB Betting Pick: Detroit Tigers

I’m calling a big night for Tigers DH Victor Martinez, who is 2-for- 3 off Hahn with a homer and two RBIs.