Game: Detroit Tigers @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Odds: Tigers +205, Dodgers -221
Total: 8.5
Detroit heads out west for a three-game weekend series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Tigers might be catching L.A. at a good time. The Dodgers are just 2-3 in their last five games. The Dodgers had yesterday off after they lost two of three to the Arizona Diamondbacks
The Dodgers will start left-hander Tyler Anderson who is 1-0 in three starts so far this season. Anderson has been fairly consistent with a 2.84 ERA and a WHIP of 0.87. Anderson will go up against another Tyler, Tyler Alexander of the Tigers. Alexander is also a lefty, but he has not enjoyed a good start to his 2022 season
Alexander has taken two straight losses to Colorado and the New York Yankees. He lasted just one inning against the Yankees allowing two walks which led to two unearned runs. He threw 42 pitches in the inning and was done for the night. In his last start against Colorado, Alexander lasted 3.2 innings and gave up five earned runs in a 6-2 loss to the Rockies. Alexander’s ERA now sits at 7.20
That’s not a good recipe for the Tigers who rank in the bottom three in the majors in runs scored. In their last ten games, Detroit has scored more than three runs just twice. One of those games was a 5-4 loss to Minnesota. The Tigers are 27th in runs and 20th in hits. They are going up against a pitcher that doesn’t allow many baserunners which is why Anderson’s ERA is a very respectable 2.84
The Dodgers are clearly the better hitting team. L.A. ranks No. 1 in the major right now in runs per game averaging 5.00. They are seventh in OPS and fourth in on-base percentage. For a young pitcher like Alexander, having to face the likes of Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, and Trea Turner could be too much to handle
Despite the 2-3 record in their last five games, the Dodgers are 11-4 SU in their last 15. L.A. and San Francisco are once again battling for control of the NL West Division. The Dodgers are also 7-1 SU in their last eight home games and they are 6-3 SU in their last nine home games against the Tigers
Detroit has lost five straight games, but surprisingly the Tigers are 4-2 SU in their last six games against the Dodgers. They have not done well on the road against L.A. as mentioned. The Tigers are also just 1-4 SU in their last five road games overall
With their low-scoring offense, it’s not surprising that the total has gone Under in 10 of Detroit’s last 15 games. Even though the Dodgers lead the majors in scoring, seven of their last eight games have resulted in the Under. Sixty percent of all games so far this season in MLB have gone Under the posted total.