Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers Betting Odds

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Detroit (-140)
Game Total Line: 8.5 Over(-125)
Run Line: Cleveland +1.5 (-165)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The Cleveland Indians will be looking to move one-step closer to reclaiming the top spot in the AL Central when they take on the division-leading Detroit Tiger tonight in the first of a three-game weekend series at Comerica Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast on the MLB Network.

Since taking two of three from the Tigers at home last week, Cleveland has won four of its last five games to close the gap in the division to just a game and a half. The Indians are now 62-58 overall. They are 33-25 at home and 29-33 on the road this season.

Fighting through a mid-season swoon, Cleveland’s pitching is back on track with a staff that has given up an average of just 2.8 runs a game in its last 10. Overall, Cleveland is ranked eighth in the AL with a team ERA of 3.87. The offensive production has remained spotty with an average of just four runs a game over the same span, which is just a bit less than the team’s season average of 4.29 runs.

Josh Tomlin is slated to get the start for Cleveland tonight. He is 12-5 on the year with a 3.97 ERA in 24 previous starts. Tomlin has given up just three earned runs on eight hits in his last 13.1 innings pitched. He is 1-1 against the Tigers with an ERA of 6.55.

Detroit appears to be feeling the heat in this race with just four victories in its last 10 games. It is coming off a 6-5 loss to Minnesota as a 135 home favorite which was its third in the last four games. The loss dropped the Tigers to 65-58 on the year. They are 31-31 on the road and 34-27 at home.

Close games have been the norm for Detroit during the month of August with 10 one-run games out of the 15 it has played. The Tigers are 7-3 in those games, but just 1-4 in the other five. The lineup continues to do a good job putting the ball in play with the third-best batting average (.269) in the AL. It is ranked fifth in scoring with an average of 4.48 runs a game.

Detroit will send Max Scherzer to the mound in this one. He was not at his best against Baltimore his last time out; giving up four earned runs on seven hits in seven innings, but still came away with the win. Scherzer is 12-7 with a 4.37 ERA in 25 starts this season. He is 2-3 with an ERA of 5.50 lifetime against the Indians.

Cleveland is 35-40 as an underdog this season. The total has stayed ‘under’ in five of its last six games and is 55-58-7 overall this season.

Detroit is 44-31 as a favorite. The total has gone ‘over’ in four of its last five games and is 61-51-11 on the year.

Head-to-head this season, the Indians have won six of nine overall, but is 1-2 on the road adding to their misery at Comerica Park with a 7-19 record in their last 26 trips there. The total has stayed ‘under’ in four of the last six meetings.

MLB Betting Pick

Stick with Cleveland to buck the trend on the road behind another strong outing by Tomlin to take the early edge in this series. Take the Cleveland Indians +120 at 5Dimes the best sportsbook for American bettors!