Cleveland (62-42) at Detroit (52-54)
When: Monday, July 29th 2024
Where: Comerica Park,
Detroit, MI
Time: 6:40 ET | TV: MLB.tv
Opening Odds: Detroit -110/7
Jack Flaherty and the Detroit Tigers will host the AL-best Cleveland Guardians on Monday night to begin a brief two-game set at Comerica Park. This could be Flaherty’s last start with Detroit before the trade deadline later this week. The veteran righty was traded at last year’s deadline from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Baltimore Orioles before signing with Detroit in the offseason. The Tigers are a long shot to make the postseason, so trading Flaherty for some prospects is probably the best idea. Detroit is coming off a 5-0 setback on Sunday to the Minnesota Twins after beating them 7-2 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Guardians just took two-of-three from the MLB-best Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend and now have the best record in the American League at 63-42. Cleveland took the rubber match on Sunday 4-3 thanks to a three-run homer from Jhonkensy Noel. Emmanuel Clase recorded two saves over the weekend and now leads the A.L. with 33. These teams split a four-game series last week in Cleveland including a 2-1 Guardians win behind tonight’s starter Tanner Bibee.
Pitching Matchup
Guardians – Tanner Bibee (8-4, 3.50)
Tigers – Jack Flaherty (7-5, 2.95)
This will be Bibee’s fifth start of the month and third against the Tigers. He gave up four runs and five hits in seven innings on July 10, then held Detroit to one run and two hits in five innings for a no-decision last Wednesday. Bibee left that game early due to cramping after throwing a warmup pitch prior to the sixth inning. He is 0-3 with a 5.84 ERA in five career starts against Detroit.
Flaherty opposed Bibee that day and held Cleveland to one unearned run on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. In three July starts, Flaherty has allowed just four runs (three earned) and eight hits in 17 2/3 innings. Flaherty is 1-2 with a 2.38 ERA in six career starts against Cleveland.
This is a good pitching matchup here and both hurlers are facing struggling offenses. The Tigers have scored three runs or less or four of their last five games, while Cleveland has done the same in seven of nine. I expect both Bibee and Flaherty to be solid, so I’ll take the Under here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today.
Pick: UNDER 7 +105
