Saturday, May 21, 2016

Comerica Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Drew Smyly vs. Michael Fulmer

The Tampa Bay Rays visit Comerica Park on Saturday to play the Detroit Tigers. The probable starters are Drew Smyly for the Rays and Michael Fulmer for the Tigers. The opening line for this matchup has Tampa Bay at -118 and Detroit at +108. The over/under was set at 9. The Rays have a 14-20-4 over/under record and a 19-19-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 50% of the time. The Tigers are 23-17-0 against the run line and have a 26-13-1 over/under record. They cover the spread 58% of the time.

The Rays head into this matchup with a 19-19 record, including 9-8 on the road. Starting pitcher Drew Smyly has a 2-4 record with an earned run average of 3.44 and a WHIP of 0.99. He has 58 strikeouts over his 49.2 innings pitched and he has given up 37 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.38. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.40 and they have given up 91 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .214 against the bullpen while being struck out 102 times and walking 38 times this season. As a team, Tampa Bay has allowed 7.6 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.61 batters per nine. They are 6th in the league in team earned run average at 3.62. The Rays pitchers have collectively given up 285 base hits and 136 earned runs. They have allowed 50 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Tampa Bay as a pitching staff has walked 107 batters and struck out 323. They walk 2.9 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.6 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.16 and their FIP as a unit is 4.12.

As a team, Tampa Bay is batting .235, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .258 average away from home. The Rays hold a .432 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .305 which is good for 23rd in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 7.89 hits per game. Evan Longoria comes into this game hitting .260 and his on-base percentage is at .307. He has 40 hits this season along with 22 runs scored and 19 runs batted in. He's struck out 38 times and has walked 10 times. Steven Souza is hitting .267 and he has an on-base percentage of .319. He has totaled 35 hits so far while scoring 18 runs and he's driven in 17. He has walked 10 times and has struck out 47 times. The Rays have 300 hits, including 71 doubles and 58 home runs. They've stolen 18 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 8 times. Tampa Bay has walked 111 times this season and they've struck out 351 times as a unit. They've left 254 men on base and have a team OPS of .736. They score 4.18 runs per contest and have scored a total of 159 runs so far this year.

Detroit comes into this matchup with a 8-9 home record and a 19-21 overall mark. With an earned run average of 6.52, Michael Fulmer has a 2-1 record and a 1.97 WHIP. He has 22 strikeouts over the 19.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 29 hits. He has allowed 13.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.91. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.98 and they have given up 124 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .266 against the Tigers bullpen while being struck out 90 times and walking 37 times this season. As a team, Detroit has allowed 9.43 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.24 batters per nine. They are 23rd in the league in team earned run average at 4.50. The Tigers pitchers as a team have surrendered 367 base knocks and 175 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 45 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Detroit as a staff has walked 128 hitters and struck out 282. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.41 while their FIP as a staff is 4.32.

As a team, they are batting .263, good for 8th in the league while putting together a .261 average at home. The Tigers hold a .427 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .321 which is good for 14th in baseball. They rank 7th in baseball with 9.05 hits per contest. Nick Castellanos comes into this matchup batting .350 and he has an OBP of .377. He has 49 hits this year along with 19 runs scored and 30 RBI. He's struck out 33 times and has walked on 8 occasions. Ian Kinsler is hitting .319 and he has an OBP of .367. He has collected 53 hits so far while he's scored 37 runs and drove in 24. He has earned a walk 10 times and has punched out 26 times. The Tigers as a unit have 362 base hits, including 65 doubles and 49 homers. They have 12 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 4 times. Detroit as a team has walked 112 times this year and they have struck out 353 times. They've had 272 men left on base and have an OPS of .747. They score 4.47 runs per game and have totaled 179 runs so far this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 14-20-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 19-19-0 against the run line so far this season

Detroit Tigers Betting Trends

The Detroit Tigers are 26-13-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Detroit Tigers are 23-17-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Tampa Bay Rays

05/14/16 2B Logan Forsythe Shoulder 15-day DL (5/10)
04/10/16 P Chase Whitley Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Brad Boxberge Abdominal 15-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 P Alex Cobb Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Detroit Tigers

05/19/16 DH Victor Martinez Illness probable Friday vs. Tampa Bay Rays
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)

Guy's Pick: Take the Tigers

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn