MLB Predictions: Tigers vs Twins Lines
The Detroit Tigers will make the trip out to Minneapolis to begin a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. The Tigers have been slow out of the gate, but the team has wins in four if its last six games, while the have won three of four.
Detroit Tigers (11-8) at Minnesota Twins (11-10)
Date: Friday, April 25, 2014
Time: 8:10 PM ET
Venue: Target Field
City: Minneapolis, Minnesota
O/U Odds: 8.5
Money Line: Detroit -128, Minnesota +118
Pitching Matchup: RH Rick Porcello (2-1, 3.15 ERA) at RH Kevin Correia (0-2, 5.47 ERA)
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The Twins have been a pleasant surprise this season, scoring the third-most runs in baseball on a per-game basis – only the White Sox rank higher in the American League. Credit the emergence of Chris Colabello for the team’s improvement in that department. Through the first 21 games of the season, Colabello hit three home runs and 26 RBIs while compiling a .325 batting average.
Colabello’s eight-game hitting streak came to an end on Thursday in a 9-7 victory over the Rays, clinching a series victory. He’ll look to get back on the board in Friday’s game against Tigers starter Rick Porcello.
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Porcello brings a 3.15 ERA into this game, though that comes on the back of a 1.32 ERA in two home starts and a shaky road outing. In that game, Porcello surrendered five runs on 10 hits in 6 ⅓ innings of work in San Diego.
Since the start of the 2012 season, Porcello is just 1-2 against Minnesota with a 5.35 ERA in seven starts, but in his last six outings at Target Field, he is 4-1 with a 2.52 ERA.
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His contributions have helped the Tigers to a 20-8 record in their last 28 games in Minneapolis.
The Twins counter with Kevin Correia. In each three of his four starts this season, Correia has been done in by a big inning, surrendering at least three runs in a single inning three times. Correia is 1-3 with a 2.75 ERA in six career outings against the Tigers, though there is one hitter that’s given him plenty of trouble.
Miguel Cabrera went 11 for 28 (.393) with 11 walks and 16 RBI against Correia last season. He’ll look to have a big game in this one as he’s hitting just .250 on the year.
The Tigers really need to start getting their act together, and it feels like every season the team takes advantage of their divisional schedule to boost their record.
This is the kind of series the Tigers can use to really turn their season around.
The Tigers are 14-3 in Porcello’s last 17 starts as a favorite, and 5-1 in his last six starts overall.
The Twins are 5-16 in Correia’s last 21 starts as an underdog, and 1-7 in his last eight starts at home. The Twins are also 0-8 in Correia’s last eight starts in the opening game of a series.
The play: Detroit -128
