The Detroit Tigers (50-52) and Cleveland Guardians (60-40) play the 3rd contest of a 4-Game set Wednesday. First pitch from Progressive Field is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Tigers vs. Guardians odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tigers lead 5-4
The Tigers won Monday’s series opener by an 8-2 count, but the Guardians returned the favor in Tuesday’s game, winning 5-4. Cleveland led 5-2 after 6 innings, but Detroit scored 2 in the top of the 7th to make things interesting, also helping the Over (8.5) get across the finish line.
Despite the loss Tuesday, the Tigers are still 6-2 across the past 8 road games. The Over has connected in 5 consecutive outings while also cashing in 5 straight meetings against the Guardians.
The Guardians posted 5 runs Tuesday, and it was just the 2nd time in the past 10 games Cleveland went for 5 or more runs in the span. The Guards are averaging 2.2 runs per game in the past 9 outings.
Tigers at Guardians projected starters
RHP Jack Flaherty vs. RHP Tanner Bibee
Flaherty (7-5, 3.13 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 0.96 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 11.4 K/9 in 100 2/3 IP.
- Last start: Win, 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H (1 HR), 1 BB, 8 K in 5-4 road victory vs. Toronto Blue Jays Friday
- 2024 road splits: 5-2, 2.84 ERA (57 IP, 18 ER), 0.88 WHIP, .201 opponents’ batting average (OBA), 8 BB, 72 K in 10 starts
- 2024 vs. Guardians: 1-1, 2.25 ERA (12 IP, 2 ER), 2 HR, .190 OBA, 3 BB, 10 K in 2 starts
- Career vs. Guardians: 1-2, 2.89 ERA (28 IP, 9 ER), 1.14 WHIP, 7.7 K/9 in 5 starts
Bibee (8-4, 3.58 ERA) makes his 21st start. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 10.3 K/9 in 110 2/3 IP.
- Last start: Win, 5 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K in 7-0 home victory vs. San Diego Padres Friday
- 2024 home splits: 4-2, 4.19 ERA (53 2/3 IP, 25 ER), 1.17 WHIP, .234 OBA, 15 BB, 62 K in 10 starts
- 2024 vs. Tigers: 0-1, 6.55 ERA (11 IP, 8 ER), .256 OBA, 3 BB, 13 K in 2 starts
- Career vs. Tigers: 0-3, 6.86 ERA (19 2/3 IP, 15 ER), 1.53 WHIP, 9.6 K/9 in 4 starts
Tigers at Guardians odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:03 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Tigers +122 (bet $100 to win $122) | Guardians -144 (bet $144 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Tigers +1.5 (-188) | Guardians -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -104 | U: -118)
Tigers at Guardians picks and predictions
Prediction
Tigers 4, Guardians 3
Moneyline
The TIGERS (+122) are a solid play as they look to rebound from a loss in a bullpen game Tuesday.
The Guardians (-144) have had a devil of a time trying to solve Detroit this season, dropping 4 of the past 6 meetings while trailing 5-4 in the season series.
Run line/Against the spread
The Tigers +1.5 (-188) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return. That’s quite expensive if you’d like a little bit of insurance and feel you just cannot trust Detroit straight up.
The Guardians -1.5 (+155) can’t be trusted, either, as Bibee has struggled in his career against Detroit.
PASS.
Over/Under
UNDER 7.5 (-118) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
Cleveland exploded for 5 runs in Tuesday’s Game, with the Over just coming in. However, the total has still ended up going low in 6 of the past 8 Games for the Guardians.
The Over is 5-0 in the past 5 games for the Tigers, though, while cashing at a 9-2 clip in the past 11 outings, so be careful.
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