The Detroit Tigers have overachieved some this season, but they have just lost their best player for the rest of 2018 and could be a good fade candidate the rest of the way – starting Thursday as a home MLB betting underdog to close out a series against Minnesota. Can they overcome the Twins in the MLB odds after beating them last? They just might do that.
The Tigers got horrible news on Tuesday night when two-time AL MVP and former Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera ruptured his left biceps tendon while swinging at a Jake Odorizzi off-speed pitch in the bottom of the third inning. He was to have season-ending surgery on Thursday but should be fully recovered by the start of spring training next February. Cabrera finishes the 2018 campaign with a .299/.395/.448 batting line, three home runs, and 22 RBI in 38 games. John Hicks is expected to get the majority of playing time at first base moving forward in Detroit.
Cabrera has played through numerous lower-body injuries in the past few years, even while winning a Triple Crown, two MVP awards and four batting titles, but it started to catch up with him in 2017. He played 130 games but hit a career-worst .249 with 16 homers. This year, he missed three games with spasms in the same biceps tendon that ruptured Tuesday, then was out for 26 games with a hamstring strain and back tightness. He returned on June 1, hitting .244 with no home runs and one RBI in 12 games before the latest injury. Cabrera is breaking down, will be 36 next April and is owed around $162 million on his contract. That’s not going to end well for the Tigers.
How to Bet Twins at Tigers MLB Betting Odds & Game Info
When: Thursday, 1:05 PM ET Where: Comerica Park, Detroit Probable pitchers (away/home): Lance Lynn/Michael Fulmer TV: MLB Extra Innings Radio: 96.3 FM (Minnesota) / 97.1 FM (Detroit) Opening MLB Betting Lines: Twins -128, Tigers +18 (8.5)FINAL: Tigers 5, #MNTwins 2.
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 14, 2018
Why Bet on Minnesota?
The Twins remain without their best-known player in former AL batting champion Joe Mauer. He went 0-for-3 in his first rehab game Tuesday with Triple-A Rochester. Mauer served as Rochester’s designated hitter but he was scheduled to play nine innings at first base on Wednesday and could come off the disabled list for Friday’s series opener in Cleveland if he remains free of concussion symptoms. The veteran first baseman has been sidelined since May 19. Entering Wednesday, the Twins have won 10 of their last 12 against Detroit, dating back to August 13, 2017. In that span, they have out-scored Detroit 75-33 and out-hit them 108-86. The Twins are 8-1 in their last nine games at Comerica Park. They have scored 10-or-more runs in five of those games and no fewer than six in any. The Tigers scored more than five runs just once in a 12-11 win on August 12, 2017. Second baseman Brian Dozier has reached safely in 21 of his last 22 games against Detroit, hitting .367 (33-for-90) with a .436 on-base percentage in that time. He has multiple hits in 10 of his last 14 games vs. the Tigers. Max Kepler has a .321 (17-for-53) career average in 17 games at Comerica Park.Who Starts for the Twins?
It’s Lance Lynn on the bump here. Lynn (4-4, 5.08) didn’t factor into the decision against the Angels last Friday, giving up just one earned run on four hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking two as Minnesota lost 4-2. The first-year Twin stumbled out of the gate in 2018 with an 8.37 ERA over his five outings in April, but he seems to have settled in lately, as this marked his fourth straight quality start since May 22. In his start against Detroit on May 22, Lynn earned the win after shutting out the Tigers over 6.2 innings on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts. In his career against Detroit, Lynn is 2-1, 2.84 ERA (19.0 IP, 6 ER) with five walks and 15 strikeouts in three starts.Why Bet on Detroit?
The Tigers got horrible news on Tuesday night when two-time AL MVP and former Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera ruptured his left biceps tendon while swinging at a Jake Odorizzi off-speed pitch in the bottom of the third inning. He was to have season-ending surgery on Thursday but should be fully recovered by the start of spring training next February. Cabrera finishes the 2018 campaign with a .299/.395/.448 batting line, three home runs, and 22 RBI in 38 games. John Hicks is expected to get the majority of playing time at first base moving forward in Detroit.
Cabrera has played through numerous lower-body injuries in the past few years, even while winning a Triple Crown, two MVP awards and four batting titles, but it started to catch up with him in 2017. He played 130 games but hit a career-worst .249 with 16 homers. This year, he missed three games with spasms in the same biceps tendon that ruptured Tuesday, then was out for 26 games with a hamstring strain and back tightness. He returned on June 1, hitting .244 with no home runs and one RBI in 12 games before the latest injury. Cabrera is breaking down, will be 36 next April and is owed around $162 million on his contract. That’s not going to end well for the Tigers.
Who Takes the Mound for the Tigers on Thursday?
It’s former AL Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer on the mound here. Fulmer (2-5, 4.40) didn’t factor into the decision in Friday’s 4-1 loss to Cleveland, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings while striking out seven. The right-hander has been inconsistent this season, but he was sharp Friday, throwing 71 of 108 pitches for strikes and delivering his sixth quality start of the year. Fulmer is unbeaten in four career starts vs. the Twins, posting a 4-0 record with a 3.04 ERA (23.2IP/8ER) and 23 strikeouts. He pitched against Minnesota earlier this season on May 23 at Target Field and earned the win, giving up a run on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Fulmer has made 30 career starts at Comerica Park, compiling a 9-10 record with a 3.59 ERA (190.1IP/76ER) and 135 strikeouts. In seven home starts this season, Fulmer is 0-4 with a 4.54 ERA (41.2IP/21ER) and 28 strikeoutsLatest MLB Betting Trends
- Minnesota is 2-4 ATS in the last 6 games on the road
- Minnesota is 2-7 SU in the last 9 games on the road
- The total went UNDER in 6 of Minnesota’s last 9 games
- Detroit is 3-10 ATS in the last 13 games when playing Minnesota
- Detroit is 3-10 SU in the last 13 games when playing Minnesota
- The total went UNDER in 7 of Detroit’s last 9 games
