Detroit Tigers vs
Cleveland GuardiansPredictions & Preview

Detroit Tigers Favored to Win Opening Game Against Cleveland Guardians, With Olson and Cecconi as Starting Pitchers

This content provides a preview of the opening game of a series between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians, offering insight into the teams' recent performances and previous matchups. The article also includes information on the starting pitchers for the game, Reese Olson for the Tigers and Slade Cecconi for the Guardians. Detroit is favored to win with a current line of -115. The prediction for the game is provided by MLB cappers. Please note that this article was published prior to the conclusion of both teams' games on Thursday night.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Tigers -115 | Guardians +104
• Spread: Tigers -1.5 (+145) | Guardians +1.5 (-168)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Detroit will win straight-up is 53%.

Detroit vs Cleveland Stats

Detroit Tigers

On Wednesday, Detroit split a doubleheader with Washington on the road after Tuesday's rainout. The Tigers currently hold a 12.5-game lead over the Guardians in the AL Central with a record of 54-33. In the opener, the Tigers recorded 15 hits with strong performances from Zach McKinstry and Colt Keith. Riley Greene hit two home runs, while Spencer Torkelson and Jake Rogers also went deep. Tyler Holton and Dylan Smith pitched well in relief to secure the win. In the nightcap, Jahmai Jones was the standout player with two RBIs. Jack Flaherty had a solid outing, but Tommy Kahnle took the loss in relief. The Tigers are expected to start Reese Olson, who has a 4-3 record with a 2.96 ERA this season. In terms of power rankings, Detroit is currently ranked 18, with an offense ranked 5th and a defense ranked 6th. They have a season record of 54-34.

Cleveland Guardians Analysis

Cleveland suffered their sixth consecutive loss to the Cubs, dropping to a 40-44 record and currently sit second in the AL Central, trailing the Tigers by 12.5 games. Despite the loss, David Fry and Carlos Santana each had solid performances at the plate, each hitting home runs in the game. Tanner Bibee took the loss, allowing five runs over four innings of work. Slade Cecconi is set to start the next game for the Guardians, boasting a 3-3 record with a 3.64 ERA this season. Cleveland ranks 26th in offense, averaging 3.66 runs per game, and 17th in defense, giving up an average of 4.27 runs per game. The Tigers have recently won two out of their last three matchups against Cleveland.

Cleveland Guardians Struggling as Pitcher Placed on Leave, Detroit Tigers Poised for Victory

The Cleveland baseball team has been struggling with a series of defeats, currently on a six-game losing streak as they trail in the AL Central division standings. Luis Ortiz, who was scheduled to start Thursday's game, has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave until July 17 due to a potential gambling investigation. This setback has further weakened the Guardians' pitching rotation, in addition to their inconsistent offensive performance, resulting in a significant gap in the AL Central standings. On the other hand, the Detroit team will benefit from Olson's return from the Injured List, enhancing their already potent offensive capabilities. With Detroit in good form and Cleveland facing challenges, the Tigers hold an advantage in the upcoming match-up between the two teams.

Sources: [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ]