Cincinnati Reds vs Detroit Tigers Betting Picks

Detroit is 4-12 on the road and the Tigers have allowed 18 runs in the first two games of this series, including a 9-2 blowout loss on Saturday. Cincinnati is in first place in the NL Central and the Reds have won seven of eight. They also are 13-3 their past 16 games against American League opponents dating to last season. Sal Stewart's three hits included a go-ahead three-run homer and a two-run single for the Reds last night. Cincinnati has won four of Rhett Lowder's five starts, including a 6-1 victory over Tampa Bay on Monday when he allowed a run on five hits in six innings. The Reds bullpen threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings on two hits in Saturday's win. Look for Cincy to get the series sweep. Take the Reds.

After sitting through nearly a two-hour rain delay, the Tigers were one strike away from beating the Reds last night. But Nathaniel Lowe hit a two-out, two-run walk-off homer off Kenley Jansen. That gave the Reds a 9-8 win. That loss has to sting the Tigers. Now, Detroit has to face Brady Singer, who has enjoyed excellent success against the Tigers. Singer is 7-1 with a 3.16 ERA in 14 games against Detroit. The Tigers are countering with Jack Flaherty, who is 0-1 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. Flaherty is going to have to deal with a streaking Elly De La Cruz, who has five homers, scored 13 runs, and has 12 RBIs in his last 13 games. Excluding a 6-1 road loss to the Rays, the Reds are averaging 7.8 runs a game during their past five games. Take the Reds.

The Reds are off to a nice start at 16-9. But the Tigers are the hotter team, winning 10 of their last 13 games. Detroit has a solid pitching advantage in this Game 1 series opener with Framber Valdez going against Andrew Abbott. Valdez is 83-53 in his big league career with a 3.36 ERA. He has been his usual solid self with the Tigers this season after eight years with the Astros. Valdez brings a 2-1 record with a 3.30 ERA and 1.20 WHIP into this matchup. He has the element of surprise as the Reds have never faced him. Abbott, a fourth-year hurler, finished eighth for the NL Cy Young Award last season. He has not followed through on that performance this season. That is putting it kindly, as Abbott is 0-2 with a 5.84 ERA and 1.74 ratio. The Reds have given up six runs in each of their past two games. Detroit is averaging 5.2 runs per game in its last five games. Take the Tigers.

The Detroit Tigers are 46-25, and they hold the best record in MLB. This team had the pitching last year, but not the bats. This season, the Tigers are complete both offensively and defensively. The Tigers have built a nine-game lead over Minnesota for the top spot in the AL Central. Cincinnati is on a five-game winning streak, but has now lost its last two. The Tigers won here last night by putting up 11 runs. (The Tigers are 5-1 after scoring 10 runs or more). The Tigers have been excellent, beating teams they should beat. When the line in their game is -150 or more, the Tigers are a sizzling 20-4 on the season. Make the play on Detroit.