Posted on
5/25/2007 2:54:44 PM
MLB Betting - Cleveland Indians (28-17) vs. Detroit Tigers (29-17)
By Robby Maddux
Two of the hottest teams in all of baseball meet tonight for the first time this season to open a three-game series when the Detroit Tigers (29-17) host the Cleveland Indians (28-17) as they battle for AL Central supremacy.
In 2006, the Tigers went 13-6 against Cleveland, winning seven of ten at Comerica Park. The Indians are 4-11 in the last 15 meetings. Divisional play has been kind to both clubs, where the Indians are 8-2 and the Tigers are 6-1 in their last seven vs. American League Central foes.
Detroit has won five of its last six games, and is coming off a 12-0 rout over the Angels on Thursday, while the Indians avoided a sweep by beating Kansas City 10-3 on the same day.
Paul Byrd (4-1, 3.55 ERA) will take the mound for Cleveland. Byrd is 4-0 in four starts at home, but is 0-1 in three road starts, with Cleveland losing each of those games.
Comerica Park has been a favorable stadium for the right-hander, though, as he gave up just three earned runs in 20 2/3 innings over three starts there last season. He is 2-2 with a 1.67 ERA in five career starts in Detroit.
Byrd went 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four starts against the Tigers last season, and is 6-2 with a 3.04 ERA in 13 games - 12 starts - against them lifetime.
In his last outing, Byrd gave up three runs and nine hits in seven innings of a 5-3 win over Cincinnati to win his second straight start on Sunday. He has not won three starts in a row since May 4-16, 2005.
The Tigers will send Nate Robertson (4-3, 3.62) to the hill. After going 2-1 with a 2.43 ERA in five April starts, Robertson is 2-2 with a 5.48 ERA in four starts this month.
Robertson split his two starts against the Indians last season, allowing ten runs in 8 1-3 innings in those games. He is 2-3 with a 5.00 ERA in 11 career starts against Cleveland.
The left-hander was a bit wild his last time out, giving up six hits and a season-high four walks in five innings, but only allowed only two of those base-runners to cross the plate in an 8-7 win over St. Louis on Friday.
The Tigers take the field as the slight favorites to win Game 1 at -126 with a total of ten. Detroit is 10-1 in their last 11 games as a home favorite, while Cleveland is 1-4 in their last five games as a road underdog.
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