2020-08-21 19:10:00 EDT
The Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians meet Friday in MLB action from Progressive Field.
Detroit just finished up a four-game series versus the White Sox. The Tigers dropped the first three installments of that set 7-2, 10-4 and 5-3. In the Thursday finale, Detroit was handily beaten in a shutout 9-0. As for the Indians, they played the Pirates this week. Cleveland took the first two games 6-3 and 6-1. In the Thursday matchup, the Indians eked out a pretty close 2-0 win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
Detroit only got 2.0 innings of action from starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull on Thursday. He allowed three earned on two hits with four walks and no strikeouts in the loss. The Tigers managed only five hits to the White Sox’ 12 in that one, so there was no offense to be found either.
For the Friday start, the Tigers will send Michael Fulmer to the mound. In his three starts without a decision so far this year, Fulmer has a 7.56 ERA with six strikeouts in 8.1 innings of work. Over his career, Fulmer has a 24-31 mark with a 3.88 ERA and 362 Ks in 464.1 frames total.
Over on the Indians’ side, they got a great pitching performance out of starter Shane Bieber on Thursday. Bieber went 6.0 innings in the win, with six hits and 11 strikeouts. Tyler Naquin led the team with three hits in that one.
For Friday’s starting pitcher role, Cleveland is sending out Adam Plutko. Over four games (three starts) and a 1-1 record this year, Plutko has a 3.95 ERA and eight Ks in 13.2 innings Across his MLB career, Plutko is 12-11 with a 5.00 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 203.1 innings of work.
The Tigers are 19-44 in their last 63 Friday games and 15-40 in their last 55 road games. Detroit is 38-107 in their last 145 overall and the over is 4-1 in their last five Friday games.
Meanwhile, the Indians are 5-2 in their last seven home games after a road trip of seven or more days, and 29-12 in their last 41 during game one of a series. Cleveland is 57-23 in their last 80 games as a favorite and the under is 6-1-1 in their last eight during game one of a series.
Pick: I’m leaning Indians here. Fulmer is still working his way back to form after Tommy John surgery, and though he’s built some velocity back up he’s still got work to do. Fulmer coughed up two homers and threw a lot of pitches on Sunday at Comerica Park versus the Indians. Granted, Plutko has had some struggles himself (three runs in 2.2 innings Sunday) but if he can keep things manageable here I think the Cleveland offense can do the rest.
