Verlander vs Braden Clash as As host Tigers

MLB betting fanatics are in for a pitching treat on Wednesday night in the Bay where Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers will look to get the best of Dallas Braden and the Oakland Athletics.

Both of these clubs currently sit in second place of their respective division heading into Game 1 of this abbreviated two-game set. The Tigers trail the AL Central leading Minnesota Twins by two-games and the A’s trail the AL West leading Texas Rangers by two-games

Detroit had its two-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the division rival Chicago White Sox yesterday afternoon, while the A’s swept the division rival Seattle Mariners right out of the coliseum winning 6-5 in extra innings last night.

Manager Jim Leyland’s squad is 8-11 as a visitor (-$184), while the A’s sport a 15-7 (+$817) record in their own house.

Detroit Tigers (22-17, +$607) vs. Oakland A’s (20-20, +$122)

Game Date/Time: Wednesday, May 19th, 10:05 ET
Game Location: Oakland-alameda County Stadium, Oakland, CA
TV/Radio Broadcast: FOX – Detroit, Comcast (California), XM

MLB Odds

Detroit Tigers -1.5 +130 -120
(Justin Verlander – R)
Oakland A’s +1.5 -150 Even
(Dallas Braden – L)
Total 7 O -120 7 U Even

Justin Verlander enters his ninth start of the season in very fine form having gone 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA & 0.90 WHIP in each of his L/3 starts against the Yankees, Indians, and Angels. He’s allowed just 11 hits and four ER’s while striking out 20 and walking eight through 21 combined IP during that stretch.

The Tigers are 3-1 in his four road starts where he boasts a 5.48 ERA & 1.43 WHIP. He’s allowed just three HR’s on the year and hasn’t served one up in each of his L/4 outings.

He’s 4-3 with a 3.47 ERA & 1.34 WHIP in eight career starts against Oakland, and lost his only outing against them last season in tonight’s venue.

Lefty Dallas Braden wasn’t able to build off his perfect game his last time out against the Los Angeles Angels who got to him for seven hits (1 HR) and four ER’s while striking out five and walking one through eight IP. The southpaw has lasted seven or more innings in each of his L/3 starts.

Oakland is 4-1 in Braden’s five Coliseum starts this season where he’s boasts a rock solid 2.00 ERA & 0.75 WHIP and has allowed just 24 hits and eight ER’s through 36 IP.

He has however been roughed up by the Tigers throughout his career going 2-2 with a 7.34 ERA & 1.57 WHIP in six overall starts.

MLB Insider Tip: Oakland has been a nightmarish venue for the Tigers to visit evidenced by the fact that they’re 2-8 their L/10 overall visits. However, with Verlander locked in at this point, I believe he’ll give the Tigers as good a chance as possible to snag Game 1 of this series.

That said; Braden has been lights out in this venue, and has gone deep in each of his L/3 starts.

With that being the case, I expect this to be an epic pitcher’s duel with righty squaring off against lefty. Runs will be very hard to come by for both offense’s, so look for Game 1 of this abbreviated MLB betting set to finish under the posted ‘total’

My MLB Prediction: Detroit/Oakland Under (Verlander/Braden)