After the pack was tight for the first two thirds of the season, the American League Central is finally crystallizing. <\/p>\n
MLB Betting \u2013 Tigers vs Rays Preview & Pick<\/strong> Detroit Tigers (69-58 through August 22)<\/strong> It appears the Detroit Tigers are the class of the bunch. Through Monday, they\u2019d won four straight to open up a 5.5-game lead atop the division.<\/p>\n To me, the key for Detroit has been secondary contributions. We knew they had the division\u2019s best star power; Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez have delivered on their considerable expectations. But wasn\u2019t depth supposed to be a problem? \u00a0<\/p>\n I for one didn\u2019t see Jhonny Peralta\u2019s career year coming, nor did I expect Alex Avila and Brennan Boesch to break out like they have. Delmon Young looks like one more solid depth addition to the lineup; he\u2019s batting .323 with two homers and six RBI in his first seven games as a Tiger.<\/p>\n Max Scherzer was at least expected to match his 2011 production on the mound and he\u2019s more or less done that. His ERA is a little up but he\u2019s thrown more strikes this season. <\/p>\n He hasn\u2019t been the same pitcher on the road, though; he has seven wins but a 5.20 ERA over 12 starts.<\/p>\n Tampa Bay Rays (69-57 through August 22)<\/strong> The Tampa Bay Rays have actually been one of baseball\u2019s hottest teams this month but their efforts go largely unnoticed since they\u2019re stuck in the shadow of the Yankees and Red Sox\u2019s battle for the AL East crown. Before falling to Detroit Monday, Tampa had won five straight games in convincing fashion. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n They\u2019ve done their damage more with pitching than hitting \u2013 except when Wade Davis pitches. Considered an elite prospect just a couple seasons ago, he now looks like an ordinary innings eater. He\u2019s ERAs month to month have fluctuated wildly: 2.73, 6.34, 3.81, 5.79 and, in August, 3.43.<\/p>\n Over is 8-1-1 in DET last 10 Wed. games. Neither team in this matchup jumps out as the definite right choice, so I\u2019ll bet on talent. Scherzer has more to offer than Davis. He has a 2.84 lifetime ERA against the Rays and he\u2019s allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last 10 starts. So maybe he can get it done against an inconsistent Tampa offense that has struggled to make contact this season.<\/p>\n Pick the Tigers and don\u2019t be surprised if Scherzer turns in a double-digit strikeout total on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Wednesday, August 24, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>FSD, SUN
\nDetroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Rays -107 <\/strong>
\nOver\/Under: 8.5<\/strong>
\n CLICK here for INDEPTH MLB ATS Stats for this matchup —><\/strong><\/a>
\n Bet now at BETONLINE —><\/strong><\/a>
\nTalk smack about MLB Baseball Today In Our Forums –><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMax Scherzer (13-7, 4.23)<\/p>\n
\nWade Davis (8-7, 4.43)<\/p>\nMLB Trends<\/h3>\n
\nOver is 6-2-2 in DET last 10 overall.
\nUnder is 8-3-1 in DET last 12 road games.
\nUnder is 6-1-1 in TB last 8 overall.
\nTB are 7-2 in their last 9 games on astroturf.
\nTB are 7-2 in their last 9 home games.<\/p>\nMLB Free pick: <\/h3>\n