Detroit Tigers vs Oakland Athletics

The Oakland A's won here yesterday as they beat Tarik Skubel which hasn't been an easy task this season. Despite the loss the Tigers are playing their best baseball of the season at 16-8 over their last 24 games. The Tigers are giving Brant Hurter a look and in his first start of the season he was a 6-2 winner. The Athletics will give the ball to Brady Basso for the first time, and you would expect he has some nervous energy. The Oakland pitching has been shaky over their last 3 games as the A's staff has allowed 28 runs in their last 3 games, and they don't have the offense to sustain winning if the pitching goes south. I like Detroit in this one.

The Detroit Tigers are looking more and more like a team that could become playoff caliber very soon. They have arguably the best pitcher in the AL in Tarik Skubal. The Tigers are 19-8 behind Skubal this season and he is the odds on favorite to capture the AL Cy Young award. The Tigers have won each of his last 5 starts, with opponents scoring a total of 10 runs. The Athletics have played well late in the season, but they are putting out one of their worst options tonight in Mitch Spence. The A's are just 6-13 in his 19 decisions. The Tigers have moved over .500 and still have a slim chance for a wildcard. I like Detroit in this one.

Oakland has been playing hard, losing 1-0 to Boston three games ago as a +150 underdog while upsetting the Tigers yesterday, 4-0, as a dog. The bullpen is eighth in the majors in ERA (2.95). The Athletics have won seven of the last nine versus Detroit. Jack Flaherty is a big favorite, though his teams are 5-5 in his last 10 starts. Detroit is 9-25 at home versus the AL West, plus 1-10 at home after winning five or six of their last seven. They're also 14-34 at home against teams with a bullpen ERA of 3.45 or better. Play Oakland.  

Oakland has been scrappy, losing 1-0 to Boston two games ago as a +150 underdog, along with a 5-4 loss to Detroit yesterday as a +205 dog. It was tied 4-4 in the seventh and five games ago, they knocked off Cleveland, 4-3, as an underdog. Starter Paul Blackburn shut out Cleveland in his first start allowing 3 hits in 7 innings of a 4-3 victory. The Athletics have won six of the last eight versus Detroit. 35-year-old Kenta Maeda (16.20 ERA) takes the mound for the Tigers after a bad performance against the 1-6 White Sox. His teams are 10-18 in April contests when he starts, as well as 23-33 in day games. This will be the third game in just two days for Detroit after playing a doubleheader two days ago ending a six-game road trip. Play Oakland.