Public Loves Tigers
The Detroit Tigers squandered their lone chance to reach the break-even mark thus far, but having their top starter on the mound might finally help them achieve that goal.
Justin Verlander, who has been perfect in his career against NL opponents, looks to help the Tigers get to .500 on Saturday when they continue their three-game interleague series with the Colorado Rockies.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Detroit -161 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 88% of bets for this game have been placed on Detroit -161 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Since losing its first seven games this year, Detroit (39-40) has made a slow and steady climb back into the AL Central race. The team has won three straight and 15 of its last 19 contests, pulling within five games of the division-leading Chicago White Sox.
"We need to take little baby steps," manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers’ official Web site. "I’m very pleased. You can’t just leap from last place to first place; it doesn’t work that way. You need to play the game the right way, and good things normally happen."
The Tigers’ success has also been seen at home, where they have won 11 of 13 games to improve to 23-17 at Comerica Park.
Their most recent victory there occurred Friday, when rookie right-hander Eddie Bonine – making his third career start – scattered five hits over eight innings in a 7-1 series-opening win over Colorado (32-48).
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Curtis Granderson went 4-for-5 with two triples to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. He has batted .471 (24-for-51) with a homer, three triples and seven RBIs in that span.
"To get this first one today, now we definitely can’t go into coast," Granderson said. "We’ve got to come out tomorrow to try find a way to win tomorrow and hopefully the next day as well, too."
Detroit moved to one game under .500 for the first time since it was 14-15 on May 1, but the team promptly lost five straight.
It will try to avoid a similar fate Saturday behind Verlander (4-9, 4.49 ERA), who struck out a season-high 10 and allowed two runs despite five walks in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-3 victory at San Diego on Sunday.
"It’s big to get a win," said Verlander, who has won his last two decisions after going just 2-9 with a 5.05 ERA his first 13 starts.
He is 8-0 with a 2.21 ERA in nine career interleague starts, but this will be his first against the Rockies.
The defending NL champions, who are currently 0-4 on a six-game road trip, have lost five straight overall – a span in which they have been outscored 29-11.
Jeff Baker had one of Colorado’s six hits and the lone RBI for the Rockies, who are 12-29 on the road.
"Offensively, we never got into a rhythm, and off the mound, we didn’t get into a rhythm," manager Clint Hurdle told the Rockies’ official Web site.
Hurdle hopes those struggles don’t affect starter Jeff Francis (3-7, 5.65), who is making his first start versus the Tigers.
The left-hander was roughed up for a season high-tying seven runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings – his shortest start of the season – in an 8-4 loss at Kansas City on Monday.
"It’s not me chalking it up to bad luck," Francis said. "It’s me not making good enough pitches."
Francis also dropped to 4-1 with a 3.89 ERA in his last six interleague games.
The Rockies, who lead the all-time series 9-4, are trying avoid their first-ever series loss to the Tigers.
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