The Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox meet Friday in MLB action from Fenway Park. The Tigers just finished up a series versus the Twins. After wins in two of the first three games, in the Thursday finale Detroit bagged a shutout victory. As for Boston, they played the Royals this week. The Red Sox also won two of their first three games, and in the finale Boston managed a shutout win of their own. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Detroit Tigers 

The Tigers lost to the Twins 9-3 in their opener this week, but then managed wins 6-0 in game two and 9-5 on Wednesday. Spencer Torkelson posted two solo homers and three runs in the game three win. On Thursday in the finale Detroit posted eight hits in a 3-0 shutout win. Riley Greene managed a solo home run, and the pitching staff held the Twins to just two hits. 

In the starter role for Friday’s game, the Tigers will send out Tarik Skubal. Over his six starts this year Skubal is 2-1 with a 3.67 ERA and 33 Ks in 27.0 innings. Skubal is coming off a win over Tampa Bay with 5.1 innings, no earned, six hits and a walk. 

Detroit Tigers Team Facts

• The Tigers have lost each of their last nine games against AL East opponents following a home win.
• The Tigers have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 10 night games against AL East opponents following a win.
• The Tigers have led after 3 innings in three of their last four games as road underdogs against American League opponents.
• The Tigers have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last six night games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Tigers’ last seven games as road underdogs against AL East opponents.

Detroit Tigers Player Prop Facts

• Javier Baez has hit a home run in each of the Tigers’ last two road games against the Red Sox.
• Javier Baez has scored at least one run in seven of the Tigers’ last eight road games.
• Riley Greene has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Tigers’ last four road games.
• Tarik Skubal has recorded six or more strikeouts in seven of his last nine appearances in night games against AL teams that held a winning record.
• Kerry Carpenter has recorded at least one hit in each of the Tigers’ last 12 games as underdogs against AL opponents.

Boston Red Sox 

Over on the Red Sox’ side, they lost 9-3 to the Royals on Tuesday but otherwise had wins 6-2 and 4-3 in the first trio of matchups. Boston 1B Triston Casas had a solo homer in the Wednesday victory. In game four the Red Sox had eight team hits on the way to a 2-0 win. Adam Duvall (two hits) and Alex Verdugo provided the RBI for the victory. 

As starting pitcher for the Red Sox on Friday, it’ll be Chris Sale. Over 11 starts this season Sale is 5-2 with a 4.58 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 59.0 innings. Sale is 4-1 in his last seven games with a 3.07 ERA and 14 earned in 41.0 innings.

Boston Red Sox Team Facts

• The Red Sox have won each of their last eight games against the Tigers.
• The Red Sox have covered the run line in seven of their last eight games against the Tigers.
• The Red Sox have led after 5 innings in each of their last five Friday games against opponents that held a losing record.
• The Red Sox have led after 7 innings in each of their last seven games against the Tigers.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Red Sox’s last eight games as favorites against AL Central opponents.

Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts

• Adam Duvall has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against the Tigers.
• Rafael Devers has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Red Sox’s last six Friday games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Triston Casas has scored at least one run in eight of his last nine home appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
• Chris Sale has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last 20 home appearances against AL Central opponents.
• Alex Verdugo has recorded at least one hit in each of the Red Sox’s last seven games against the Tigers.
• Alex Verdugo has recorded at least one total base in each of the Red Sox’s last seven games against the Tigers.
• Masataka Yoshida ranks 8th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.304) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Boston Red Sox ranks T1st in the league for doubles this season (254).
• The Boston Red Sox are one of only 3 teams in the league to rank top 10 in both strikeouts and on-base percentage this season.
• The Detroit Tigers ranks 29th in the league for slugging percentage this season (.373).
• The Detroit Tigers ranks 28th in the league for runs scored this season (455). 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m going to take a stab on the Tigers here. Probably not touching it, though. Skubal should be able to put Detroit in a decent position if he can get through 5.0 innings or so. He struggled a bit versus Miami back on July 30 (4.2 innings; four earned) but in two of his last three starts Skubal is 2-0 with 10.1 innings, zero earned, eight hits and one walk. Detroit has been scoring well lately also; the’ve got three or more runs in each of the last six games, and six or more runs in three of those. A good start on both sides of the ball would go a long way in this opener.