Total Play As AL Central Squads Square Off

Twins vs. Tigers, 1:10 ET

Early in the season, the way that schedules work out, we get a lot of solid pitching matchups. Opening Day has the aces, and then a lot of teams play on similar schedules for a while so we get a lot of the aces lining up over the course of the first few weeks. It isn’t always great though because some of the pitchers don’t get into a groove until later in the season. However, we have two pitchers going today that are already locked in with Pablo Lopez going for the Twins and Tarik Skubal going for the Tigers. 

The Twins have been frauds for a couple of years now. People seem to think they are the best team in the division, and I’d have to say that I started coming around to them this season. However, put them in either of the other divisions and they would be one of the bottom dwellers. I’m sure you could say that about any of the other teams in the division as well. The Twins are off to a rough start this season, but they can turn it around by taking care of business against a division rival. With Lopez on the mound, it gives them their best opportunity. Lopez is 1-1 on the season and has a 2.84 ERA with a 0.87 WHIP. He allowed three earned runs over 5.2 innings against the Guardians in his last start. Historically he has been fairly good against the Tigers, holding them to just 14 hits in 61 at-bats. Only one of the 14 Tiger hits (Mark Canha is 4-for-8 with one double) went for extra bases. 

Carlos Correa is one guy in the Twins lineup with success against the Red Sox's Paxton.

The Tigers are Geoff Clark’s baby this season. I can feel the sense of pride and joy with every win that they take in this season as he saw the potential in them early this season. I’ll be honest, I told him I didn’t believe it and just couldn’t get there with the Tigers. The thing is, I get that they can be successful in this division, I just wasn’t willing to support it. I’m making up for it already though with a lot of bets and plays on their games. I lost the last one as I took the Pirates to beat them the other day and it didn’t work. Today, they have their Ace, Skubal, taking the mound and he could be the force that leads the Tigers to be a big payday for Clark. Skubal started the season with a quality start and six innings of three hit, scoreless ball. Against the Athletics, he allowed four earned runs in 6.1 innings. He has a solid 0.73 WHIP and has held the Twins to 10 hits in 42 at-bats. The thing is five of those hits have been for extra bases. 

Both of these pitchers are locked in right now. I get that Skubal allowing four earned runs to the Athletics isn’t ideal, but it also isn’t ridiculous. Neither the Twins nor the Tigers are good offensively and go against tough pitchers. Today is the day to play the under. I’m going to back this through five innings as I don’t think either pitcher allows more than two earned over the first five. 

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