The Cleveland Indians (26-23) look to put an end to their eight-game skid when they visit the Detroit Tigers (21-27) for the first game a four-game series Thursday. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET at Comerica Park. We analyze the Indians-Tigers betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.
Indians at Tigers: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Shane Bieber vs. RHP Casey Mize
Bieber has been the most dominant starter in all of baseball in 2020. He has struck out 43.1% of the batters he has faced and boasts an elite 1.53 ERA after 10 starts.
- This will be his eighth start of the season on the road. He has been brilliant in the first seven, with a 1.51 ERA and 68:11 K:BB in 47 2/3 innings, with the only blemish being a 1.1 HR/9.
- The Tigers are striking out at the highest rate against right-handed pitching this season. Bieber has made three starts against them since the beginning of the 2019 campaign, allowing a total of two earned runs in 21 2/3 innings, along with 29 strikeouts.
Mize has made five starts and pitched a total of 20 innings. His 5.85 ERA is bloated, but the underlying numbers suggest it should be at least a run lower.
- Mize wasn’t efficient in his first four starts, averaging more than 20 pitches per inning. He finally lasted more than four innings in his last start, going 5 1/3 frames with five strikeouts and two earned runs allowed against the Chicago White Sox.
- He has been tough on right-handed bats so far, as he has allowed a .701 OPS along with a 22.2% K-BB%. By comparison, lefties have compiled an .845 OPS, and his K-BB% against them is just 6.4%.
Get some action on this game or any other matchup in the 2020 season with an MLB bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!
Indians at Tigers: Key injuries
Get the latest injury news here.
Indians
- C Roberto Perez (shoulder) questionable
- RP Emmanuel Clase (suspension) out
Tigers
- 2B Jonathan Schoop (hamstring) out
- OF Jacoby Jones (hand) out
Also see: BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
Indians at Tigers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 2:45 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Indians 4, Tigers 1
Money line (ML)
- Indians (-286)
- Tigers (+250)
The Indians should win this game with their ace on the hill against a below-average offense, but laying nearly 3:1 odds is a steep price to pay, especially when considering the Indians have scored a total of 18 runs in their last seven games. We’ll look elsewhere for value and AVOID the money line.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Tigers (+250) to win would return a profit of $25. The same bet on the Indians fetches a profit of just $3.50.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
- Indians -2.5 (+100)
- Tigers +2.5 (-121)
The Tigers will have their hands full against Bieber and will have a hard time getting anything going offensively today. On the other side, Mize may be a future ace but hasn’t looked like it in his first five big league starts. He also hasn’t pitched deep into games, and the Tigers will have to lean heavily on a bullpen with the fifth-highest ERA in the league.
Even with the Cleveland offense in a slump, they should come out comfortably on top Wednesday evening. Side with the INDIANS -2.5 (+100), or consider bumping it up to -3.5 (+150) for an even higher profit.
Over/Under (O/U)
- Over 7.5 (-110)
- Under 7.5 (-110)
We have a low total with Bieber on the mound, and for good reason, as he hasn’t allowed a single earned run in five of his 10 starts. The Tiger bats aren’t going to do much damage today, and it’s tough to bet on a big offensive outburst from Cleveland, given the way they have been hitting. Side with the UNDER 7.5 (-110).
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