Two teams that are in dire straits for their playoff lives duke it out in MLB betting action at Fenway Park on Sunday, as the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox wrap up a three game set in Beantown.
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The Tigers are in a whole boat load of trouble with the trade deadline over, as they are just barely holding over .500 and are six games back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
Boston isn’t in much better shape, as they are 5.5 games out of the AL Wild Card chase. The difference is, the Red Sox aren’t chasing a Chicago team that has looked vulnerable at points during the year. They are heading after the team with the second best record in baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays.
Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox
Game Date/Time: Sunday, August 1st, 1:35 ET
Game Location: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
TV/Radio Broadcast: Fox Sports Detroit, NESN, XM
The Tigers are going to be throwing RHP Justin Verlander on Sunday afternoon. Verlander has thrown eight innings in each of his last two starts, but he only has a 1-1 record to show for it. For the season, Verlander is already 12-6 with two complete games. His 3.74 ERA is the best in the Detroit rotation. A 1.21 WHIP is fantastic as well. Verlander has an excellent 2.65 K/BB ratio. His 8.50 K/9 is great, and that’s up from his 8.07 K/9 for his career. For his career, Verlander is 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox.
Verlander might not be the only Cy Young Award hopeful on the mound on Sunday. Boston is going to throw RHP Clay Buchholz. After spending a few weeks on the DL right around the All-Star Break, Buchholz has had a mixed bag in his last two starts. He allowed five runs in four innings in Oakland on July 21st, but he fired back with just one earned run allowed in seven innings for his 11th victory of the season on July 26. For the season, Buchholz has a 11-5 record and a 2.71 ERA. He has already reached a career high in strikeouts at 73, but manager Terry Francona would love to see more starts like his last one with more than a handful of punch outs. Buchholz has already beaten Detroit once this season, and he is 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA in his three starts against the Tigers for his career.
MLB Insider Tip: The Tigers are just 3-13 in their last 16 games overall coming into this weekend. The Red Sox haven’t fallen apart at this point, while Detroit really has. Unless the Tigers nail down a bat or two at the trade deadline before Sunday, we tend to believe they are going to be a great fade here. Backing Boston is the way to go in MLB betting action on Sunday.
My MLB Prediction: Boston Red Sox (Buchholz)
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com
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- MLB Betting Prediction: Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics: May 19th 2010
- Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers Odds & Prediction: July 2nd 2010
- Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Detroit Tigers MLB Betting Prediction: June 19th 2010
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