The ALDS is tied at 1, but someone will go home tonight with the series lead.
The Detroit Tigers held on for Sunday’s 5-3 victory as a 133 road
dog against the New York Yankees, evening the best-of-five American League Divisional Series between the
clubs at 1-1. Tigers cleanup man Miguel Cabrera cracked his first
postseason homer in a 3-for-4 day, while starter Max Scherzer allowed no runs
in the contest’s first six innings en route to recording the win for his club.
Monday night’s Game 3 has the foes resuming the series in Detroit,
with Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.43 ERA) slated to oppose
Yankees lefty C.C. Sabathia (19-8, 3.01 ERA). MLB betting lines opened
Verlander as a 130 favorite, while initially posting the ‘total’ at seven
‘over’ (minus 120).
Tigers fall apart after Verlander departs
Verlander picked up a no-decision in Friday’s Game 1 for Detroit,
who lost the matchup, 9-3, as a 118 road dog. The four-time All-Star
stood in for just one inning due to the game being suspended for rain until
Saturday.
Detroit’s Doug Fister took over on the hill, getting shelled for
six runs in 4 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old was relieved by Al
Alburquerque, Ryan Perry and Daniel Schlereth, who united to allow four hits in
the final 2 1/3 frames.
Tigers outfielder Delmon Young poked his first postseason homer,
finishing 2-for-4. Young’s mates Austin Jackson and Magglio Ordonez
struggled from the lineup’s top two spots, hitting 0-for-7.
Yankees’ bats roll to take opener
Sabathia was also yanked early in the series opener, lasting two
innings before the duel’s suspension. The 11-year veteran allowed Young’s
homer for Detroit, while tossing four strikeouts.
New York replaced Sabathia with Ivan Nova, who recorded the team’s
win after giving up two runs in 6 1/3 frames. Yankees relievers Luis
Ayala and Mariano Rivera closed out the contest, each lasting 1/3 of the final
inning.
New York’s Robinson Cano cracked a homer and two doubles, going
3-for-5 en route to six RBIs. Yankeed cleanup man Alex Rodriguez went
0-for-5, while outfielder Brett Gardner drove in two runs from the lineup’s No.
9 spot.
The Yankees’ onslaught cashed ‘over’ tickets by the sixth inning,
with the matchup’s 12 combined runs flying above the ‘total’ of seven. New York edged out Detroit in hits, 11-7, while neither club recorded an error.
Back the ‘over’ as the bats stay hot
Monday’s first pitch is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. (ET). The
weather forecast in Detroit calls for a 56-degree night, with 15mph winds
blowing to center field.
In today's MLB free pick I am backing the ‘over,’ looking for both squads to
get their share of runs against the listed starters.
Detroit’s lineup has heated up against left-handed starters,
hitting .286 when facing southpaws in its last 10 games. The ‘over’ is
5-0 in the Tigers’ last five games against lefties, while going 5-2 in
Detroit’s last seven home games when opposing foes with a winning road record.
The Yankees faced Verlander twice during the regular season,
notching 5.5 RPG in those affairs. ‘Over’ backers cashed at 3-0-1 in
Verlander’s last four starts against the Yankees, dating back to last season.
Sabathia has struggled in the past against some members of
Detroit’s lineup. The Tigers’ Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson have
united for three homers and two doubles in a combined 39 career at-bat’s
against Sabathia. Cabrera is 9-for-16 lifetime when facing the five-time
All-Star, including two homers.
Umpire Gerry Davis is slated to call the balls and strikes. The ‘over’ is 3-0 in the Missouri native’s last three games behind the plate
with Sabathia starting, while cashing at 1-0 in his sole appearance this year
with Verlander on the hill.
My Pick: Take the ‘over’ and look for series’ slugging to continue in the
“Motor City.”