AL Central Picks: July 24, 2013
The Detroit Tigers picked up another game on the Cleveland Indians after the conclusion of Tuesday’s action and they should have a good chance to separate themselves from The Tribe even further with a match-up against the last-place Chicago White Sox today. Will the Indians get things back on track and stay in the hunt? Let’s take a closer look at each of the four games in the American League central with our daily run line picks!
Minnesota Twins +1.5 at Los Angeles Angels -1.5
After picking up wins in the first two games of their current three-game series with the Angels, the Minnesota Twins are feeling pretty confident coming into today’s game, but earning the road sweep will be far from easy as they go up against Angels ace Jered Weaver (4-5, 3.30 ERA).
Weaver has been spectacular since coming back from the DL and is coming off one of his best starts of the season. With Mike Pelfrey (4-7, 5.40 ERA) going for the Twins, they will be severely outgunned on the mound today, so look for the Angels to cover -1.5 in the win.
Cleveland Indians +1.5 at Seattle Mariners -1.5
The once inept offense of the Seattle Mariners has transformed lately into one of the best slugging squads in the league and the result has been a season-high eight-game win streak that they will bring into the third and final game of their current series with the Cleveland Indians today.
Though they have dropped the first two games of the series in Seattle, the Indians have only been defeated by two combined runs and with a no major disadvantage in the pitching match-up today, they should be able to at least keep the score close again.
Cleveland’s Scott Kazmir (5-4, 4.30 ERA) and Seattle’s Joe Saunders (9-8, 4.28 ERA) are almost identical on paper and although Seattle is the hotter team, it’s unlikely that it can continue this streak for much longer. Look for the Indians to cover +1.5, even in defeat.
Detroit Tigers -1.5 at Chicago White Sox +1.5
Detroit improved its advantage in the division without Miguel Cabrera in the lineup yesterday, so even if they don’t have him again today, that doesn’t mean they can’t take another game from the lowly White Sox.
Manager Jim Leyland isn’t sure Cabrera will be ready to go after sustaining a hip flexor injury, but with Anibal Sanchez (7-7, 2.85 ERA) getting the ball against Chicago’s John Danks (2-7, 4.52 ERA), we still like Detroit’s chances. Take the Tigers to cover -1.5 in another win.
Baltimore Orioles +1.5 at Kansas City Royals -1.5
The Baltimore Orioles are already one of the league’s strongest hitting teams, and with Wei-Yin Chen (5-3, 2.67 ERA) back in the rotation, they’re a formidable pitching force as well.
Chen has won three straight starts since returning from the DL, so shutting down the Kansas City Royals shouldn’t be a problem. However, the real problem will be finding enough offense against KC’s best hurler, Ervin Santana (6-6, 3.18 ERA).
Both pitchers are coming off nice outings and they should keep the score low, which is why we should lean towards the Orioles to at least cover +1.5 here today.
