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The least profitable pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 2019 season was Detroit’s Spencer Turnbull. If you had backed the Tigers with a $100 wager every time he took the mound, you would have lost a ton of money. Turnbull has been slightly better this season and takes the mound in Game 2 of a series vs. the visiting Cubs on Tuesday.

How to Bet Cubs at Tigers MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Comerica Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): TBA/Spencer Turnbull
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet on Chicago Cubs?

This three-game set in Detroit is the lone meeting for the Cubs and Tigers this season, and the clubs’ first since 2018 when the Cubs went 3-1 spanning two-game sets at Wrigley Field and Comerica Park. Chicago’s .320 winning percentage (8-17) against the Tigers is the franchise’s second-lowest winning percentage against any active major league club. The Cubs have gone just 4-12 (.250) against the Yankees in regular season play. But since the start of 2016, the Cubs are 58-31 (.652) in interleague play, the best mark in the N.L .and second in the majors behind Boston.

The Cubs remain without former NL MVP Kris Bryant, who is on the injured list with issues to his back, wrist and left ring finger. Bryant is working on pain management and range of motion in his treatment, hoping to get to a point where he can swing without hesitation. He’s doesn’t want to put a set return date but said he’s “always optimistic.” He’s eligible to come off the IL next Saturday, when the Cubs play a doubleheader in Cincinnati. Bryant is having a lousy season, batting just .177 with two homers.

Normally it’s a good thing when teams get the bases loaded, but not the Cubs. Entering this week, they are hitting just .182 (6-for-33) with the bases loaded this season. They’ve struck out 14 times, most in Major League Baseball, while ranking 16th in RBIs (16).

“We’re going through a stretch right now that just is glaring, and the guys getting the bases load it’s good, that’s a good thing,” Manager David Ross said. “So, I don’t want to shy away from any of that.”

The Cubs have two starting pitchers on the injured list in Jose Quintana and Tyler Chatwood and it’s likely that one of them is activated to start this game. Quintana is ready to go after a two-inning bullpen session on Friday, but the club is still discussion exactly how they’ll bring him back. He could go to the bullpen. Chatwood threw a bullpen this weekend to test out his back. He also a possibility.

Why Bet on Detroit?

The Tigers could be close to making a change at closer. Joe Jimenez gave up three runs while getting just an out on Sunday in his appearance against the Indians. Jimenez now has given up seven earned in his last two outings, and that’s seen his ERA inflate all the way to 12.46.

His fastball velocity has fallen off significantly to an average velocity of 93.8, a drop of nearly 2.5 miles per hour. The pitch has also entirely lost its vertical movement. His -1.0 wins above replacement is the worst among all Tigers pitchers. Since the 2018 All-Star break, he has an ERA of 6.03 and has successfully converted only 70 percent of save opportunities.

Meanwhile, Jose Cisnero got the final two outs in Sunday’s contest with the Indians to pick up a save. Cisnero has been outstanding in his 15 games with Detroit, with an ERA of 1.76.

Will the Tigers be buyers or sellers ahead of the Aug. 31 trade deadline? The expanded playoffs are not the biggest reason why Tigers general manager Al Avila expects the trade market to be “tepid” this year. Only players from the 60-man player pool can be traded. That limits the scope of transactions greatly.

“I find it hard to believe, in the environment we’re in, that guys are going to be making a lot of trades and picking up high-salary guys,” Avila said last week. “It just seems highly unlikely.”

It’s Spencer Turnbull (2-2, 3.65) on the mound. Turnbull’s strong start to the season faded with command issues in his last two outings, including four walks over 60 pitches in just two innings Thursday against the White Sox. Turnbull allowed three runs in the loss and couldn’t find the strike zone, throwing just 31-of-60 pitches for strikes. He did not record a strike out.

There are 89 pitchers who have thrown at least 150 innings in the last two seasons, and in that time Turnbull owns a 4.47 ERA and an MLB-worst 5-19 record. An elevated BABIP (.325) and low left-on-base percentage (68.9%) suggest more bad luck. As a result, his 3.92 FIP is half-a-run lower than his ERA.

Expert Prediction Cubs 5, Tigers 3