2020-08-26 19:10:00 EDT
The Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers meet Wednesday in MLB action from Comerica Park.
This will be the final installment of a three-game series between these teams this week. In the opener Monday, the Cubs cruised to a 9-3 win. In the Tuesday game, Detroit was able to even it up with a 7-1 victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Cubs were out-hit 10-4 by the Tigers in the Tuesday loss, and could only post one cosmetic run in the ninth inning. That came on a Wilson Contreras solo homer. Starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood took the loss with 1.1 innings, three hits and two earned with five walks.
For the Wednesday game, the Cubs will be sending out lefty Jon Lester. In his five starts this season, Lester is 2-1 with 17 strikeouts in 26.2 innings of work. Over his career, Lester is 192-109 with a 3.58 ERA and 2372 strikeouts in 2564.1 frames total.
Over on the Tigers’ side, Spencer Turnbull managed a solid starting outing on Tuesday, posting 5.2 innings, three hits, three walks and no earned with five strikeouts. Jonathan Schoop posted a grand slam in the sixth inning which pretty much sealed the game, his seventh homer of the year.
In the Wednesday starting pitcher role, the Tigers are going with Michael Fulmer. Over four starts without a decision so far this season, Fulmer holds a 9.53 ERA with 10 Ks in 11.1 innings. Fulmer is a career 3.95 pitcher in the MLB with a 24-31 record and 366 strikeouts in 467.1 innings of work.
The Cubs are 4-1 in the last five during game three of a series and 39-13 in their last 52 interleague games versus a team with a losing record. Chicago is 19-8 in their last 27 versus the American League Central and the over is 11-3 in the last 14 road games.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are 21-47 in their last 68 Wednesday games and 15-36 in the last 51 during game three of a series. Detroit is 40-110 in the last 150 overall and the under is 8-1-1 in their last 10 Wednesday games.
Pick: I’m going with the Cubs here. Neither starting pitcher inspires much confidence at the moment, though. Lester’s cutter has been all over the place, and he coughed up eight runs in just 3.2 innings versus the White Sox back on Friday. As for Fulmer, he’s still having issues getting up to speed, with five runs in three innings Friday despite improved velocity. This one could turn into a high-scoring mess if neither guy is on, and I think the Cubs will hold on if that’s the case.
