Tigers vs. Rays betting preview: Best odds and predictions
The Detroit Tigers will face the favorites to win the American League Pennant this weekend in a three-game series at Comerica Park.
Odds are in the Rays’ favor to win the AL Pennant, and time is running out for the Tigers to mount a challenge for the top position in the AL Central. Detroit is currently 6.5 games out of first place entering play on Friday.
With Riley Greene having a breakout season, and his pal Spencer Torkelson gaining steam at the MLB level too, Detroit has a pair of offensive players who invite parlay and props bets going forward. With the Best MLB Betting Sites rankings here at MLive, we have everything you need to find the promo offers and bonus bets for your baseball betting.
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Game Details
- Who: Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- When: Friday, August 4
- Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
- Where: Comerica Park (Detroit, MI)
MLB Odds
Our Tigers odds today are courtesy of Caesars MIchigan Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Tigers +122, Rays -145
- Runline: Tigers +1.5 (-130), Rays -1.5 (+110)
- Total: Over/Under 9.0 Runs (-110, -110)
Reese Olson (1-4, 4.71 ERA, 47 K in 49.2 IP) vs Zack Littell (1-2, 4.85 ERA, 30 K in 29.2 IP)
In Olson’s eight starts, the total has gone OVER four times, UNDER three times, and pushed once. Detroit is 3-5 in his starting assignments. In his most recent outing, Olson allowed four runs in six innings against Miami. He has not been a reliable prop bet on K’s: he only recorded two strikeouts in his last start, despite facing 26 batters.
Olson is a rarity for a young hurler: he employs five pitches, and four of them (his slider, four-seamer, sinker, and change) he uses often. That can serve him well, unless he doesn’t have his slider on point, then his fastball can prove hittable. He’s allowed eight HR, and five have come off his four-seam fastball. The Rays are baseball’s most home run-happy lineup, and if Randy Arozarena and former Tiger Isaac Paredes sit on Olson’s fastball, it could be a tough night for the Detroit righty. Friday’s game will be the first look Tampa hitters have ever had against Olson.
Littell is with his seventh organization, and surprise(!), he’s finding success as a Ray. The Tampa coaching staff is notorious for turning around reclamation projects like Littell. In May, the Red Sox waived Littell, and any team could have had the 27-year old righthander. Now in the clutches of Tampa pitching coach Kyle Snyder, Littell is throwing his slider and split-finger fastball more frequently. He’s seen his K rate soar, and that spells trouble for Detroit on Friday night.
- Detroit is 2-8 in its last 10 games against the Rays.
- Tampa Bay swept the Tigers in a three-game series to open the 2023 season, outscoring Detroit 21-3.
- The total has gone Under in 12 of the Rays’ last 18 games, and 6 of the last 9 games on the road.
- Detroit has lost 6 of its last 9 games against Tampa at home.
- The Rays are dominating AL Central opponents: Tampa is 16-4 against that division in its last 20 games.
Rays -1.5 (+110 from Caesars MI)
The Rays are an uppercut-slugging team with great defense and strong baserunning. That doesn’t even touch their pitching staff, which ranks second in the league in ERA, and first among starting pitching. This is a tough matchup for Detroit, even at home, and we like $100 on Tampa Bay to win by at least two runs. That bet, if it won, would pay $210, including your stake.
Today our Same-Game Parlay was crafted using Caesars Sports Betting site. The odds are +525 for this three-leg parlay built on player props. Look at the Detroit lineup close to first pitch to ensure Cabrera will be playing. He should: Manager A.J. Hinch typically plays Miggy the game after a day off and in the first game of a series.
Odds are +525 for this parlay:
- Riley Greene Over 1.5 Total Bases
- Zack Littell Over 3.5 Strikeouts
- Miguel Cabrera Over 0.5 Hits
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