The Yankees will attract a lot of action at the betting windows on Friday night in the opening game of a three-game series against the Tigers, as their ace will be matching up against a 23-year-old making his Major League debut
Yankees hold a major situational edge
New York received a much-needed off day on Thursday, as the club looks to improve upon its 4-2 record on its current nine-game road trip through Oakland, Los Angeles and Detroit. The Yankees have won all five of their games following a day of rest during the 2012 MLB season. Detroit doesn’t figure to be as fresh after going 4-6 on its recent 10-game road trip that finished with a 7-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.
Sabathia hasn’t fared well in the Motor City dressed in pinstripes
Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (6-2, 3.66 ERA) is the main reason that the betting odds are inflated in this matchup, but it’s important to note that he’s garnered an 0-3 record and 6.00 ERA in three regular-season starts at Comerica Park since arriving in the Bronx from Cleveland before the 2009 campaign. The left-hander did capture a 6-2 home win over the Tigers on April 29, giving up two runs and four hits over eight frames. In six road starts this season, Sabathia is 3-1 with a 4.61 ERA, surrendering five home runs in 41 innings.
Casey Crosby has dreamed about this day since being selected in the fifth round of the 2007 MLB draft, as he gets set to make his first professional start due to Doug Fister landing on the 15-day disabled list. The left-hander has enjoyed great success in pitching at Triple-A Toledo this year, posting a 4-2 record and 4.26 ERA in nine starts, while limiting opponents to a .191 batting average in May. He will be facing a Yankees’ lineup that’s hitting .270 and average 4.59 runs per game against southpaws, which has led to a 9-6 record in that situation.
Is there value in backing the road favorite?
I’m not one to play road favorites in any sport, but it’s hard to ignore that the Bronx Bombers are 18-3 in Sabathia’s last 21 starts as a road favorite of -151 to -200. Detroit looks even less attractive from a value standpoint when you consider the club has dropped its last nine games against left-handed starters.
Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera is the keySabathia will need to pitch around Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who is 10 for 20 (.500 ) with two home runs and 12 RBI in his career against him. The 29-year-old slugger managed to hit .331 in May, including six hits in his last 10 at-bats in his last two games at Fenway Park against the Red Sox to close out the month.
PredictionToo many situational edges point in the Yankees direction in this contest, especially with how inconsistent the host has been this year. Detroit has dropped 13 of its last 16 games following a victory. New York improves its record to 35-18 in June since the start of the 2010 season.
New York Yankees -155