Detroit is Favorite in MLB Lines Against Baltimore on Tuesday Night

Posted by Michael Hunt on Monday,May 15, 2017 1:12, EDT in

MLB News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

The Baltimore Orioles are in their first major slump of the season as they bring a four-game losing streak into Tuesday’s first visit of the season to Detroit. It’s a pretty good pitching matchups of left-handers on the mound. The Orioles took a huge beating this weekend against the Kansas City Royals, ending that series at 0-3. For Detroit, they had an ok 4 game series this weekend against the Los Angeles Angels, ending that series at 2-2. The Tigers likely will be slight MLB betting favorites.

Click Here for More MLB Lines

Detroit is the MLB Betting Pick Against Baltimore on Tuesday Night

RECAP: @CrushD19 goes deep, but #Orioles fall to Royals in high-scoring game. https://t.co/8uHunJKXuC #Birdland pic.twitter.com/gZaghAPksI

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 15, 2017

When: Tuesday, May 16, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit
Probable pitchers (away/home): Wade Miley/Matthew Boyd
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream: MLB.tv
Radio: Baltimore / Detroit
Opening MLB Lines: Tigers favored by TBA

Why Bet On Baltimore?

The Orioles were swept in Kansas City over the weekend, losing each by one run. On Sunday in a 9-8 loss, Mike Moustakas homered off Kevin Gausman with Drew Butera and Alcides Escobar aboard in a five-run fourth when the Royals sent 11 men to the plate. Gausman was pulled after retiring only 10 of the 21 batters he faced, allowing five runs and nine hits with two walks.

Chris Davis crushed his sixth homer of the season in the defeat. Davis also singled and drew three walks, reaching base safely in all five of his plate appearances. His solo shot off of Chris Young got the O’s on the board in the second inning with the game’s first run. With Sunday’s effort, he’s now slashing .252/.368/.445 with six homers on the season, but he has only driven in 11 runs.

The Orioles recalled right-hander Richard Bleier from Triple-A Norfolk, where he had a 0.61 ERA, allowing one run in 14 2/3 innings with 15 strikeouts and no walks. Bleier had a 1.96 ERA in 23 relief appearances last season for the Yankees. The Orioles optioned LHP Vidal Nuno, who had a 6.75 ERA in nine bullpen outings, to the Tide. Center fielder Adam Jones was not in the Orioles’ lineup Sunday due to a sore hip. The O’s wanted to give Jones a couple days of rest when you add in Monday’s off day. He should be back in there Tuesday.

It’s southpaw Wade Miley (1-1, 2.45) on the mound. Miley allowed two runs in five innings and settled for a no-decision as the Nationals came back to win in the ninth inning on Wednesday. It was another solid outing in what has been an unexpectedly solid season for the veteran left-hander. He managed to rack up 119 pitches in five innings. He walked four batters, allowed five hits and struck out five. Miley left the game with a 5-2 lead, but the Orioles’ bullpen blew the game in the final two innings. He has a very nice 2.45 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings in seven starts.

Miley will be making his eighth start. He has limited opponents to a .214 average through 36 2/3 innings. But walks have been an issue — he has allowed a team-high 23 to go with 28 hits.

Why Bet On Detroit?

The Tigers return from a nine-game West Coast trip where they were 4-5. The Tigers lost the final at the LA Angels on Sunday, 4-1. Miguel Cabrera went 0-for- 4 with three strikeouts in that loss. It was a rough four-game weekend set for Cabrera, who went 2-for- 17 with five strikeouts against Angels pitching. The slugger has been mostly quiet with the bat this season as he is hitting just .238/.319/.396 with four homers and 14 RBI across 101 at-bats.

There was some good news as the Tigers activated outfielder JD Martinez off the DL on Friday; he hurt his foot in the spring and hadn’t played yet this season. To open a roster spot, the team put outfielder Jim Adduci on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to May 11, with a right oblique strain. Adduci did a nice job in his limited time with the Tigers, slashing .318/.388/.500 with seven RBI in 49 plate appearances. It remains to be seen if there’s a spot for him on the roster once he recovers from the oblique issue.

It’s lefty Matthew Boyd (2-3, 3.89) on the mound. Boyd was charged with three earned runs and a loss in Arizona last week. He gave up eight hits and walked three in six innings. On the brink of escaping a jam, Boyd instead allowed the Diamondbacks to break open the game. The Tigers trailed only 2-1 in the sixth when Boyd issued an intentional walk to Nick Ahmed in order to face Arizona pitcher Zack Godley. But Boyd walked Godley to load the bases and then paid for it when A.J. Pollock smacked a two-run single.

Boyd will be looking for his first win in a month when he takes the mound on five days’ rest. Despite that, Boyd has recorded three consecutive quality starts and has a 3.96 ERA in four games since his last victory on April 16.