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Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers MLB Preview & Free Pick

Indians vs Tigers MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks

A little over a week ago, the Detroit Tigers had taken over the AL Central lead and looked ready to run away with it.

Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers MLB Betting Preview
Starting Pitchers: Cleveland (Masterson) vs. Detroit (Sanchez)
Date/Time: August 2, 7:05 p.m. EST
MLB Gambling Odds from BetOnline
Moneyline: Detroit (-141) Cleveland (+131)
Runline: Tigers -1.5 (+135) Indians +1.5 (-155)
Total: 9

Matchup | Preview

A bit of a miniature slump has put the Tigers back behind the White Sox in the division, but they are still right there. Cleveland has slumped of late, and the Indians chances of spoiling the party at the top don’t seem very good right now.

The Indians have lost six straight games, and they are quickly falling out of contention in the AL Central. Cleveland’s pitching staff has been getting blasted of late. The Indians are 27th in the majors in team ERA. Justin Masterson actually leads team starters in ERA, but his ERA is a mediocre 4.47 in 2012.

Even the Indians relief pitchers have struggled through the last couple weeks. Offensively, Cleveland ranks right around the middle of the league in the major statistics. Travis Hafner is on paternity leave right now, so that is one less big bat in the middle of the lineup. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

Austin Jackson may not get the publicity that many other Tigers players get, but he has been the key to this team’s success this year.

Jackson is hitting .318 with a .405 on-base-percentage this year. When he was out of the lineup, the Tigers offense struggled to score. Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder may be the best one-two punch in the middle of the order of anyone in baseball.

Cabrera leads the league with 87 RBI’s. Detroit made a key trade with Miami a couple weeks ago. Omar Infante helps their lineup be much deeper, and Anibal Sanchez is a nice number three starter for this team.

Sanchez has had an ERA under 4 in each of his last four seasons.

The Tigers have won 25 of their last 29 home meetings with the Indians. Sanchez is the more consistent pitcher, and the Tigers have the better offense.

MLB Free Pick: Tigers ML

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By Kyle Hunter

Kyle Hunter sports picks – A degree in finance and a great ability to follow important trends and statistics set him apart from the rest. Totals are Kyle's specialty, so look for a lot of totals picks from NBA, NCAAF, & the NFL. Check out his plays today.