Houston Astros (31-38) vs Detroit Tigers (33-35)
Game Info: Friday, June 14, 2024 at 8:10 pm (Minute Maid Park)
Hunter Brown (2-5) (5.58) vs Tarik Skubal (8-1) (1.92)
The Detroit Tigers, currently sitting at 33-35, are fighting to keep their wild card hopes alive despite a rough stretch, having lost five of their last seven games. Recently, Detroit lost two out of three games in a series against Washington, following a similar series loss to the Brewers. However, they did manage to win two out of three games against the Rangers and split a four-game series with the Red Sox. Over their last 12 games, the Tigers are 5-7, placing them fourth in the AL Central.
Detroit's pitching staff boasts a 3.83 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and a .240 opponent batting average. Offensively, the Tigers have scored 290 runs with a .231 batting average and a .298 on-base percentage. Riley Greene is a notable performer, hitting .245 with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs this season. However, the team has allowed at least five runs in five of their last seven games.
Astros Aim for Consistency
The Houston Astros, with a 31-38 record, have struggled similarly, losing three of their last four games. They are coming off a series loss against the Giants and have had mixed results in their recent matchups: winning two out of three against both the Angels and the Cardinals, but losing two out of three to the Twins. With a 7-9 record in their last 16 games, Houston is third in the AL West.
Houston's pitching staff has a 4.20 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and a .239 opponent batting average. The Astros' offense has scored 306 runs, boasting a .259 batting average and a .320 on-base percentage. Yordan Alvarez stands out, batting .293 with 14 home runs and 35 RBIs. The Astros have allowed at least four runs in seven of their last ten games.
Moneyline: Detroit Tigers (+100) vs. Huston Astros (-120)
Starting Pitchers
Detroit will start Tarik Skubal, who has an impressive 8-1 record with a 1.92 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP over 79.2 innings this season. Skubal has been exceptional, allowing one earned run or fewer in four of his last five starts and just two earned runs over his last three outings. Houston will counter with Hunter Brown, who is 2-5 with a 5.58 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP over 61.1 innings. Brown has shown improvement recently, allowing two earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts, pitching six innings in each.
Why the Detroit Tigers Will Win
The Astros have struggled against the Tigers recently, losing five of their last six home games as favorites following a loss to Detroit. The Tigers, conversely, have won three of their last four games as road underdogs against Houston after a win. Additionally, the Astros have failed to cover the run line in their last five night games against the Tigers at Minute Maid Park following a loss. Detroit has also covered the run line in their last five games as road underdogs against AL West opponents following a home win. Furthermore, Houston has trailed after three innings in each of their last four night games against AL Central teams with losing records.
Total Runs Insights
Eleven of the Astros' last 12 games against American League opponents have gone under the total runs line. Conversely, ten of the Tigers' last 12 games as road underdogs have gone over the total runs line. The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Astros' last five night games against AL Central opponents.
Prediction: Detroit Tigers Moneyline (+100)
Despite being two games below .500, Detroit has a slightly positive road record at 17-16. Houston, struggling at home with a 17-18 record, has faced challenges despite a strong lineup. Hunter Brown has shown promise recently, but Detroit’s Skubal has been outstanding and might be the best pitcher in the AL this season. Given Detroit’s recent scoring ability and Skubal's form, I predict the Tigers will come out on top in this matchup.