It is way too early in the MLB season to start talking about teams being shoe-in winners of a division, but there are certainly signs at this point that a specific division may be heading in a certain direction. That said, there are going to be slumps to come, not to mention injuries and trade deadline moves that could seriously alter the direction in which a division is currently headed. As it stands at the moment, there is one division that already seems to be spiraling out of control, with one team looking head and shoulders above the rest. That division would be the AL West, where the Houston Astros are currently opening up a major gap on the chasing pack.
While the lead that they have right now is a big one, the question still remains whether they can maintain their high level of play. The Astros will have the opportunity to open up an even bigger gap when they face the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. Houston won in blowout fashion in the opening game of this series and are in as a 1 ½ run favorite for this one, with the run total set at 10 ½.
Astros vs Tigers MLB Week 7 Betting Lines & Game Preview
- When: Tuesday, May 14 at 7:10 PM EST
- Where: Comerica Park, Detroit
- Starting Pitchers: Miley vs. Carpenter
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Radio: The Ticket
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Week 7 Betting Lines: Houston Astros -230 (Total 10)
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Why bet on the Houston Astros?
The Houston Astros are just a couple of years removed from being a World Series winner, and with the majority of the players that won it all still in the line-up, this team once again needs to be considered a serious threat. They are certainly looking like one of the top contenders right now, as they have stormed out to a 27-15 record after winning 6-straight games.
While they have been totally dominant in their own ballpark, the Astros have been a little less formidable on the road, where they are currently 11-11 SU. What cannot be ignored is the tremendous balance that this team has, as they have an amazing +76 run differential going right now. Houston won 8-1 in the opening game of this series and will look to win again with Wade Miley (3-2, 3.18 ERA) on the mound.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.45
- Hits: 9.55
- Walks: 3.64
- Strike Outs: 7.19
Defense
- Runs: 3.64
- Hits: 6.62
- Walks: 2.55
- Strike Outs: 9.52
Why bet on the Detroit Tigers?
The Detroit Tigers are on a poor run of form right now, going just 4-6 in their last 10 games. That run has dropped them below the .500 mark at 18-21, which now has them sitting 6 ½ games back of the Houston Astros at the top of the AL West. The loss to the Astros on Monday night has also had an impact on the home record that the Tigers currently have, as they are now back to .500 at 9-9 in their own ballpark.
As a home underdog, Detroit have really failed to rise up, going just 2-8 SU in those 10 games, while also going just 3-7 ATS in those meetings. They have covered in 3 of their last 4 games, but all 3 of those came away from home. Detroit will start Ryan Carpenter (0-1, 10.80 ERA) in this one.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 3.46
- Hits: 7.59
- Walks: 3.03
- Strike Outs: 9.69
Defense
- Runs: 4.90
- Hits: 8.82
- Walks: 3.54
- Strike Outs: 8.10
Athletics vs Mariners MLB Odds, Game Preview & Expert Pick
Astros vs Tigers MLB Week 7 Betting Trends
- Astros are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games against Detroit
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston’s last 6 games on the road
- Tigers are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit’s last 6 games against Houston
- Tigers are 14-8 against the money line in home games in May games over the last 2 seasons
- Astros are 60-25 against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 3 seasons
- Miley is 0-0 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 6.63 and a WHIP of 1.842
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Astros vs Tigers
The Houston Astros are rolling right now and certainly appear to have a serious edge in the pitching match-up on Tuesday night. I see this as another big win for the Astros, who will cover the spread in the process.
Score: Houston Astros 7 – Detroit Tigers 2
