Cleveland Indians (56-58) vs. Detroit Tigers (57-61)
August 15, 2021 1:10 pm EDT
The Line: Detroit Tigers -111 / Cleveland Indians -120; Over/Under: -8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers meet Sunday in MLB action from Comerica Park. This will be the final installment in a three-game weekend set between these teams. The Indians took a three-run win in the Friday opener, then on Saturday the Tigers powered out a two-run victory to even it up. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Cleveland jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the Friday game and never looked back during a 7-4 victory. In the Saturday game two, the Indians had the game tied in the eighth but couldn’t hold on in an eventual 6-4 defeat. Sam Hentges lasted 2.0 frames with three earned on four hits.
For the Sunday finale, the Indians will send Triston McKenzie to the mound. So far this year McKenzie has a 1-5 record with a 5.66 ERA and 88 strikeouts over 76.1 innings and 17 games (16 starts).
Over on the Tigers’ side, they posted a couple of runs in the bottom of the ninth Friday but couldn’t make up the deficit. In the Saturday game, Detroit posted nine hits on the way to the win. Wily Peralta put up 4.1 innings with six hits, three walks and three earned runs.
For the starter gig in the Sunday finale, the Tigers will bring out Drew Hutchison. We last saw Hutchison in MLB action in 2018, when he put up a 1-1 record over five starts and 21.1 innings with an 8.86 ERA and 12 Ks.
The Indians are 6-13 in the last 19 road games and 4-10 in their last 14 with a total of 7.0-8.5. Cleveland is 1-4 in their last five in game three of a series and the under is 5-1-1 in their last seven Sunday games.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are 16-36 in their last 52 Sunday games and 46-105 in their last 151 versus the AL Central. Detroit is 37-76 in their last 113 at home versus a right-handed starter and the under is 24-8-1 in the last 33 Sunday games.
PICK: I’m going to take the Indians here, but probably staying away. McKenzie had a rough outing versus the White Sox to close out July, with 4.0 innings, four hits, three walks and six earned. Since then McKenzie has been better however, posting 13.0 innings with nine hits, one walk and five earned. He’s 0-1 in that time, however. Still, if McKenzie can notch a quality start Cleveland should be in good shape. It’ll be interesting to see what Hutchison can do, however.
