300♦ TIGERS RUN LINE (LIST Verlander over Tillman) - Yep, I know, the biggest favorite on the board. But sometimes you have to simply say what the hell, and lay a price and the run line. The oddsmakers are telling you who the favorite is, and who should win this game, nd quite frankly, when you have a team coming in after giving up 18 runs, and now hve to travel to play a team hungry to keep pace in an always competitive American League Central ... well, you get the point.
Eight different players had multiple hits for the Red Sox, who pummeled the Orioles 18-10 on Sunday, as Boston pounded out 23 hits and led 14-6 after four innings. The Red Sox outscored Baltimore 28-15 in completing their first three-game sweep on the road since June 2-4, ironically, right here in Detroit. The O’s are now 2-11 against the Red Sox this season, and they’re going to be so dejected after a loss like that, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the O’s give up another double-digit figure.
Even if the beat-down is coming from Detroit, which was humiliated yesterday, 11-1, by the lowly Indians. That loss makes me love this one even more. The loss dropped Detroit to 23-33 on the road, the worst mark of any first-place team, but since it’s playing 13 of its next 17 at home, this is the perfect jumping-off point to gain some momentum.
Let’s get to the biggest culprit tonight, that being Justin Verlander. To help his Tigers maintain and possibly increase that 1-1/2-game edge over the White Sox, Verlander comes into this one on a 4-1 run and with a 2.00 ERA in his last five starts, in which he’s recorded 42 strikeouts over 36 innings.
The right-hander is sporting an American League-best 172 strikeouts and needs just 12 to surpass his career high set in 2007. Don’t be surprised if he gets it against the Orioles, who hve lost 12 of 16 after being swept by the Crimson Hose.
Verlander is 4-0 and has a 1.85 ERA against the Orioles, who are the junior circuit’s worst road team at 16-34 and have lost seven of their last nine away from Camden Yards.
Lay the run line here and bank on Verlander over Chris Tillman, who made his major league debut Wednesday, when he gave up three runs - all on solo homers – in a 7-3 win over Kansas City. This one won’t be so easy. All Tigers.
List both pitchers tonight, and bank on the home team in this one to take full advantage of a tribe of tired Braves, who were humiliated at home and on national television last night. I like this youngster Mat Latos, as he’s been one of the few bright spots for the Padres, who have National League’s second-worst record.
San Diego promoted Latos (2-1, 2.70 ERA) from Double-A San Antonio on July 18 after he went 8-1 with a 1.38 ERA in 13 minor league games, including 11 starts. And in his three starts for the Padres, the 21-year-old right-hander has seemingly improved every time he’s stepped to the hill. Quite frankly, he was nearly unhittable in last Wednesday’s 7-1 win over Cincinnati, as he retired 21 of the 23 batters he faced, giving up just a home run and a walk.
Latos is stifling opponents to a .164 batting average and I’m betting will have similar success shutting down the Braves, who arrive in San Diego after last night’s game with their own struggles to generate offense. Atlanta, which was limited to five hits last night, scored a mere five runs and batted a paltry .188 in the three-game set with the Dodgers.
Not the Braves are on the West Coast after losing six of 10. Not a good way to start this trip. Give me the home underdog in this one.
Chris Jordan 8/3
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