Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Comerica Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ricky Nolasco vs. Justin Verlander

The Minnesota Twins visit Comerica Park on Wednesday to play the Detroit Tigers. The probable starters are Ricky Nolasco for the Twins and Justin Verlander for the Tigers. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota at +150 and Detroit at -160. The over/under was set at 9. The Twins have a 20-15-2 over/under record and a 15-22-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 41% of the time. The Tigers are 21-17-0 against the run line and have a 26-12-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 55% of the time.

The Twins head into this matchup with a 10-27 record, including 4-17 on the road. Starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco has a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 4.87 and a WHIP of 1.15. He has 37 strikeouts over his 44.1 innings pitched and he has given up 43 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.02. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.48 and they have given up 146 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .275 against the bullpen while being struck out 130 times and walking 53 times this season. As a team, Minnesota has allowed 9.9 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.16 batters per nine. They are 27th in the league in team earned run average at 4.92. The Twins pitchers have collectively given up 358 base hits and 178 earned runs. They have allowed 50 home runs this season and they allow 1.4 homers per nine innings as a staff. Minnesota as a pitching staff has walked 119 batters and struck out 295. They walk 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.47 and their FIP as a unit is 4.45.

As a team, Minnesota is batting .239, good for 23rd in the league while putting together a .230 average away from home. The Twins hold a .382 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .305 which is good for 23rd in baseball. They rank 18th in baseball with 8.19 hits per game. Joe Mauer comes into this game hitting .275 and his on-base percentage is at .392. He has 36 hits this season along with 10 runs scored and 9 runs batted in. He's struck out 21 times and has walked 25 times. Eduardo Nunez is hitting .333 and he has an on-base percentage of .375. He has totaled 34 hits so far while scoring 14 runs and he's driven in 14. He has walked 5 times and has struck out 20 times. The Twins have 303 hits, including 64 doubles and 36 home runs. They've stolen 24 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 7 times. Minnesota has walked 114 times this season and they've struck out 332 times as a unit. They've left 266 men on base and have a team OPS of .688. They score 3.68 runs per contest and have scored a total of 136 runs so far this year.

Detroit comes into this matchup with a 6-9 home record and a 17-21 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.71, Justin Verlander has a 2-4 record and a 1.23 WHIP. He has 50 strikeouts over the 49.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 44 hits. He has allowed 8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.33. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.17 and they have given up 123 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .273 against the Tigers bullpen while being struck out 85 times and walking 35 times this season. As a team, Detroit has allowed 9.56 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.15 batters per nine. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.60. The Tigers pitchers as a team have surrendered 353 base knocks and 170 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 43 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Detroit as a staff has walked 122 hitters and struck out 264. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.1 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.43 while their FIP as a staff is 4.36.

As a team, they are batting .259, good for 10th in the league while putting together a .250 average at home. The Tigers hold a .420 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .319 which is good for 15th in baseball. They rank 10th in baseball with 8.92 hits per contest. Nick Castellanos comes into this matchup batting .348 and he has an OBP of .378. He has 46 hits this year along with 17 runs scored and 30 RBI. He's struck out 32 times and has walked on 8 occasions. Ian Kinsler is hitting .310 and he has an OBP of .357. He has collected 49 hits so far while he's scored 34 runs and drove in 20. He has earned a walk 10 times and has punched out 26 times. The Tigers as a unit have 339 base hits, including 63 doubles and 46 homers. They have 10 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 3 times. Detroit as a team has walked 111 times this year and they have struck out 342 times. They've had 262 men left on base and have an OPS of .738. They score 4.37 runs per game and have totaled 166 runs so far this season.

Minnesota Twins Betting Trends

The Minnesota Twins are 20-15-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Minnesota Twins are 15-22-0 against the run line so far this season

Detroit Tigers Betting Trends

The Detroit Tigers are 26-12-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Detroit Tigers are 21-17-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Minnesota Twins

05/07/16 SS Eduardo Escobar Groin 15-day DL (5/7)
04/27/16 P Kyle Gibson Shoulder 15-day DL (4/23)
04/13/16 P Glen Perkins Shoulder 15-day DL (4/11)

Detroit Tigers

04/28/16 P Shane Greene Finger 15-day DL (4/25)
04/04/16 P Daniel Norris Back 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Jeff Ferrell Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 P Angel Nesbitt Ankle 15-day DL (3/25)

Josh's Pick: Take the Tigers

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