If you bet on World Cup matches then you know how unpredictable sports can be. Earlier in the season, the Detroit Tigers were on top of the AL Central holding off the Minnesota Twins. The betting world felt that the Tigers would start to fade away as the season wore on because their starting rotation and bullpen was weak. Fade away is exactly what the Tigers have been doing.
The Seattle Mariners were never high on any MLB betting charts, and it was expected that they would be battling it out with the Oakland A’s for the AL West basement. The shining star in Seattle is still the very consistent Ichiro. Once you get past Ichiro on the hitting side and Cliff Lee on the pitching side, there is not much there for the Mariners.
But as the World Cup semi finals betting continues, the Mariners have put together a winning streak. The Mariners have won seven of their last 10, including putting together a two-game winning streak. Cliff Lee has been impressive in his last two starts, and Ichiro has been his usual All-Star self.
The Detroit Tigers continue to fade away. They have lost six of their last 10 which includes a current two-game losing streak. Their starters cannot finish games, and their bullpen cannot shut the game down. The Tigers have been hitting well lately. They have a team batting average of .272 and they are third in the AL with 158 doubles. Their run production is slipping though and they have only hit five home runs as a team in the last seven days.
Doug Fister and his 3-3 record take the mound for the Mariners. He is just coming off rehab in the minors for a shoulder injury, but he does maintain a 2.87 ERA. Fister is putting together a good second season, and if his injury does not come back to haunt him then his improvement will continue.
The Tigers will be putting Max Scherzer on the mound. Scherzer has struggled this season with a 4-6 record and an enormous 5.26 ERA. He is a power pitcher that uses speed to beat his opponent. He had control problems earlier in the season, but he has since worked those problems out and in his last start he threw eighth strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched.
The Mariners just do not have the power at the plate to contend with a fast ball pitcher. While the Mariners do get on base a lot, they also strike out a lot and that works in the Tigers’ favor. Fister is still recovering from his injury, and the Tigers have the line-up that can really pound the ball against someone who is still trying to get his confidence and control back.
This game will be closer than many would expect, but it comes down to the Tigers’ pitching versus the Mariners’ hitting. A couple of years ago, that would have tilted heavily in the Mariners favor. But now, times have changed.
Pick: Detroit Tigers 4-3
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