Thursday MLB Odds, Picks, Predictions for Athletics vs. Tigers: Expect Pitchers’ Duel in Detroit (May 12)
Ben Green/Getty Images. Pictured: James Kaprielian
- The A's and Tigers are set for the finale of their four-game series.
- The under seems to be the play here as both offenses are struggling and the wind will be blowing in.
- Tony Sartori shares his best bet below.
Athletics vs. Tigers Odds
| Athletics Odds | +100 |
| Tigers Odds | -120 |
| Over/Under | 7.5 (-105/-115) |
| Time | 1:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute MLB odds here. | |
We have the fourth and final game in this four-game set as the American League Central's Detroit Tigers host the AL West's Oakland Athletics. The total runs scored has been under seven in two of the first three games in this series.
Will we get another low-scoring affair between these two teams, or will the bats pick it up this time around?
Oakland Athletics: Kaprielian, Bullpen to Stifle Detroit Offense
The Oakland Athletics enter this contest amidst a run of low-scoring games. I expect this run of low-scoring contests to continue on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers as the A's are slated to go against right-handed pitcher Beau Brieske.
Not a single A's player has faced Brieske before, so it could take a few trips through the batting order to figure him out. This season, the Athletics rank dead-last in the league in BA, wOBA, and OPS against right-handers.
Meanwhile, right-hander James Kaprielian is set to take the mound for Oakland. After a rough first outing, Kaprielian settled down in his second start and allowed just one run on three hits through 5 2/3 innings on the road against the Minnesota Twins.
Even if Kaprielian does not repeat his strong outing, I trust Oakland's bullpen to prevent this game from getting out of hand. Oakland's relief pitching ranks ninth in the league in ERA, 12th in SLG and ninth in FIP.
Detroit Tigers: Bullpen Continues to be a Strength
Like the Oakland Athletics, the Detroit Tigers enter this matchup amidst a run of low-scoring games and this trend could continue for the Tigers as they face right-hander James Kaprielian.
Against right-handed pitchers this season, Detroit ranks just 28th in the league in BA, 29th in wOBA and 29th in OPS. As I mentioned earlier, right-hander Beau Brieske is slated to take the mound for Detroit.
Brieske has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his three starts this season and the total has finished under seven in each of those outings. Like Oakland, Detroit's one strength is its bullpen, which should be able to close out this game after Brieske gets pulled.
Detroit's relief pitching ranks third in the league in ERA, second in BA, second in wOBA, fourth in WHIP and sixth in FIP. Unders have been an ATM for bettors this season as they have cashed at a 70% clip.
Athletics-Tigers Pick
Neither of these teams could hit off of a right-hander if their lives depended on it. Couple that with two competent starting pitchers and two good bullpens and the under is the play to make in this game.
If you combine all of the games played between these two teams this season, the total has gone under 65% of the time. We may also get a little help from the weather as the forecast calls for 8-10 MPH winds to blow directly inward from center field.
Pick: Athletics/Tigers u7 (-105) | Play up to (-120)
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