Thursday, July 21, 2016

U.S. Cellular Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Mike Pelfrey vs. James Shields

The Detroit Tigers visit U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday to play the Chicago White Sox. The probable starters are Mike Pelfrey for the Tigers and James Shields for the White Sox. The opening line for this matchup has Detroit at +117 and Chicago at -127. The over/under was set at 10.5. The Tigers have a 50-40-4 over/under record and a 52-42-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 55% of the time. The White Sox are 44-49-0 against the run line and have a 41-48-4 over/under record. They cover the spread 47% of the time.

The Tigers head into this matchup with a 49-45 record, including 23-27 on the road. Starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey has a 2-9 record with an earned run average of 4.95 and a WHIP of 1.76. He has 46 strikeouts over his 100 innings pitched and he has given up 134 hits so far this season. He has allowed 12.1 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.3. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.46 and they have given up 310 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .268 against the bullpen while being struck out 251 times and walking 98 times this season. As a team, Detroit has allowed 9.33 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.49 batters per nine. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.51. The Tigers pitchers have collectively given up 865 base hits and 418 earned runs. They have allowed 96 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Detroit as a pitching staff has walked 282 batters and struck out 694. They walk 3 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.38 and their FIP as a unit is 4.09.

As a team, Detroit is batting .265, good for 8th in the league while putting together a .257 average away from home. The Tigers hold a .434 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .326 which is good for 12th in baseball. They rank 7th in baseball with 9.15 hits per game. Ian Kinsler comes into this game hitting .290 and his on-base percentage is at .345. He has 109 hits this season along with 75 runs scored and 55 runs batted in. He's struck out 72 times and has walked 26 times. Nick Castellanos is hitting .299 and he has an on-base percentage of .338. He has totaled 103 hits so far while scoring 47 runs and he's driven in 52. He has walked 21 times and has struck out 89 times. The Tigers have 860 hits, including 145 doubles and 120 home runs. They've stolen 39 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 16 times. Detroit has walked 278 times this season and they've struck out 784 times as a unit. They've left 633 men on base and have a team OPS of .759. They score 4.69 runs per contest and have scored a total of 441 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 24-22 home record and a 46-47 overall mark. With an earned run average of 5.10, James Shields has a 4-11 record and a 1.52 WHIP. He has 77 strikeouts over the 109.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 119 hits. He has allowed 9.8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.2. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.53 and they have given up 257 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .249 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 251 times and walking 129 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 8.83 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.79 batters per nine. They are 12th in the league in team earned run average at 4.02. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 816 base knocks and 371 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 99 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 314 hitters and struck out 720. They give up a walk 3.4 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.8 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.36 while their FIP as a staff is 4.20.

As a team, they are batting .250, good for 19th in the league while putting together a .253 average at home. The White Sox hold a .400 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .315 which is good for 22nd in baseball. They rank 20th in baseball with 8.48 hits per contest. Melky Cabrera comes into this matchup batting .298 and he has an OBP of .346. He has 96 hits this year along with 41 runs scored and 42 RBI. He's struck out 37 times and has walked on 25 occasions. Adam Eaton is hitting .273 and he has an OBP of .356. He has collected 99 hits so far while he's scored 43 runs and drove in 30. He has earned a walk 37 times and has punched out 68 times. The White Sox as a unit have 788 base hits, including 153 doubles and 93 homers. They have 42 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 23 times. Chicago as a team has walked 274 times this year and they have struck out 758 times. They've had 637 men left on base and have an OPS of .714. They score 4.06 runs per game and have totaled 378 runs so far this season.

Detroit Tigers Betting Trends

The Detroit Tigers are 50-40-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Detroit Tigers are 52-42-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago White Sox Betting Trends

The Chicago White Sox are 41-48-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago White Sox are 44-49-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Detroit Tigers

07/06/16 P Daniel Norris Oblique 15-day DL (7/5)
07/04/16 P Jordan Zimmerman Neck 15-day DL (6/01)
06/21/16 P Drew VerHagen Shoulder 60-day DL (5/23)
06/17/16 RF J.D. Martinez Elbow 15-day DL (6/17)
04/04/16 P Jeff Ferrell Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 P Angel Nesbitt Ankle 15-day DL (3/25)

Chicago White Sox

07/09/16 P Carlos Rodon Wrist 15-day DL (7/6)
07/05/16 C Alex Avila Hamstring 15-day DL (7/6)
07/01/16 3B Matt Davidson Foot 60-day DL (6/30)
06/21/16 P Zach Putnam Elbow 15-day DL (6/21)
06/10/16 CF Austin Jackson Knee 15-day DL (6/10)
05/06/16 P Jacob Petricka Hip 60-day DL (5/2)
04/27/16 C Kevan Smith Pelvis 15-day DL (4/24)

Tony's Pick: Take the Tigers

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