Dominating The Yanks
The Detroit Tigers seem to have the Yankees’ number this season, but that doesn’t mean manager Jim Leyland enjoys playing them.
The Tigers will be trying to continue their domination of New York on Saturday when the teams continue their three-game series at Comerica Park.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Detroit -135 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 55% of bets for this game have been placed on Detroit -135 (View MLB Bet Percentages). Bet this game.
Detroit (16-21) has won all four of its games against New York (18-19) this season, including Friday’s series-opening, 6-5 victory. The Tigers have scored at least six runs in all four meetings, while holding the Yankees to a total of just 15.
Still, Leyland doesn’t think his team, which has won six straight against the Yankees since a 7-2 home loss last Aug. 25, can relax against them.
"I said this last week: I can’t wait till Sunday, till they’re gone," Leyland said. "They’re going to unload on somebody, and I just hope it’s not us."
Detroit had dropped six of seven heading into this series after pulling off its first sweep of at least three games at Yankee Stadium since 1966, April 29-May 1. The Tigers had managed one run or fewer in four of their previous seven contests, but scored six with 13 hits on Friday.
"A win is a win right now," said former Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield, who homered for the Tigers in the series opener. "We just want to get back on a roll and play like we’re capable of playing. Once we do that, there won’t be too many close games."
Jason Giambi homered for the Yankees, who lost for the third time in four games.
The Yankees are hoping for better results on Saturday when Darrell Rasner (1-0, 3.00 ERA) makes his second start of the season. The right-hander was called up from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and started in place of the injured Phil Hughes on Sunday, allowing two runs and five hits in six innings of an 8-2 win over Seattle.
Rasner made six starts for the Yankees last season, going 1-3 with a 4.01 ERA, before breaking his right index finger. He had been 4-0 with a 0.87 ERA in five outings at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before his promotion this season.
"Just try to run with this opportunity," Rasner said. "I think I’m finally getting back in the groove."
Detroit counters with Jeremy Bonderman (2-3, 4.17), who gave up four runs – all on a pair of homers – in six innings of Monday’s 6-3 home loss to Boston.
"I think I threw the ball really well," he said. "The two home runs they hit were good pitches."
Bonderman snapped a four-start losing streak against the Yankees on April 30, yielding just two runs in 7 2-3 innings of a 6-2 win at Yankee Stadium. The right-hander is 3-6 with a 5.21 ERA in 11 regular-season appearances – 10 starts – against the Yankees.
He also went 8 1-3 innings against New York in the decisive fourth game of an AL division series in 2006, giving up two runs in Detroit’s 8-3 win. Bet this game.
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