The Detroit Tigers (10-9) and New York Yankees (10-8) will open up a three-game American League series on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 ET
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees
Detroit hits the road trying to snap a four-game losing streak that includes dropping three games in a row at home to the Seattle Mariners. “We’re just in a little bit of a rut,” commented Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander. “We’ve been playing poorly, so it’s time to turn it around.” Offensively, third baseman Miguel Cabrera is still the catalyst in the lineup, hitting his sixth round tripper of the year on Thursday afternoon. He has compiled a .382 average with nine home runs and 20 RBIs in his last 19 games in the Big Apple. Detroit is 3-1 on the road with a money line of -100 to -125, while the “under” is 4-0 in that situation.
Verlander (2-1, 1.72 ERA) will look to win his third straight game, coming off a 3-2 home win over the Texas Rangers last time out, giving up a single run (zero earned) and four hits in six frames. The right-hander captured a 3-2 win against the Kansas City Royals in his lone road outing of the year, surrendering two runs and seven hits in a complete-game effort. In 10 career starts versus the Yankees, Verlander is 4-3 with a 3.97 ERA, but is 0-2 with a 4.00 ERA in three outings at the new Yankee Stadium.
New York will get back on the field after enjoying an off day on Thursday, coming off a 3-2 road trip against the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers. The Yankees continue to get incredible production out of shortstop Derek Jeter at the top of the lineup, as he enters this series on a 15-game hitting streak, while batting .420 over his past four games. New York is 2-0 when playing with a day off, but are 2-5 as a home underdog of +100 to +125 over the last two-plus years.
Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova (3-0, 3.79 ERA) had led the club to three victories heading into his fourth start of the year, as the offense has supplied him with 23 runs of support. The right-hander has tallied a 9-3 mark and 4.29 ERA in 20 career home games (19 starts), as he’s given up 14 home runs in 113.1 innings. In one career game versus the Tigers, Nova allowed two hits in two shutout innings in relief.
Bettors will likely back the Yankees due to their 7-0 record in Nova’s last seven starts when opening up a series, while the Tigers are 1-4 in their last five road games versus a team with a winning home record.
Make sure to check out our Major League Baseball picks all season long and get the most up-to-date betting odds at Bookmaker