Three-Way Race In AL Central Heats Up
Both the NL Central and the AL Central are in a three-way dance that looks like it is going to come down to the final games that decide who takes each division. Since we have already focused on the NL Central, let’s turn our attention to the American League.Â
The Kansas City Royals are currently at the top of the division, but if the Detroit Tigers go over the Cleveland Indians they could find themselves at the top of the division. The Indians, though, have a lot of motivation to win too, considering the are only 3.5 games from taking the division, and motivation is something the Indians are not lacking.
In their last series, against the Royals, the Indians came just short of sweeping their division-leading rivals.
The Indians took the first two games of the series against the Royals. In Game 3 on Sunday it went into extra innings. In the 10th the Royals held a 4-2 lead. Then the game was rained out. It will resume on Sept. 22. Until then, the Indians have a tough road to the end of the season.
With less than 30 games left to play, things do not get any easier. The Indians now will face off a team just as determined as they are.
The Tigers are looking at this four-game series as an opportunity to take the division. They aren’t exactly entering this series red hot, though. They split games with the Chicago White Sox over the weekend and lost 6-2 in the finale of that series.
The Tigers will be sending David Price to the mound to get the job done today. Price will be looking to shake off some bad pitching, as in his last start against the New York Yankees he allowed nine consecutive hits. This unwanted streak placed him as the first pitcher in 25 years to accomplish this disastrous feat.
Price’s bad luck did not begin their, however. Two weeks ago Price became the first pitcher in “at least a century” according to MLB.com to pitch a one-hitter without allowing a walk or earned run and still take a loss.
Corey Kluber will take the ball for the Indians. The right-hander will be facing the Tigers for the fourth times this season. In his previous three outings against Detroit he has pitched well with a 2.78 ERA.
Kluber, though, is also looking to shake off a string of bad luck. Despite turning in quality starts, Kluber has taken two back-to-back losses in his last two outings. It was his first consecutive losses of the season.
The Indians are the favorites to win this one with a -117 moneyline. To bet on the Tigers the moneyline is set at +129. The game starts at 4:05 p.m. ET.
