MLB Odds for August 25: Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays
Thursday, August 25, 2011
by Frank Martin
The Tampa Bay Rays have to feel better after a walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the 10th inning Wednesday gave them their first victory over the Detroit Tigers this season after five losses. The victory pulled the Rays within 7½ games of the New York Yankees in the American League wild card race
. Tampa Bay will send Jeremy Hellickson to the mound to try to gain a split against the visiting Tigers in the final game of the series Thursday. The Rays have scored only six runs in the series, but have given up only nine. Detroit had its five-game win streak snapped.
- Detroit Tigers (70-59) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (70-58)
When: 1:10 PM ET, Thursday, August 25, 2011
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, SunSports (Tampa Bay)
The Rays have opened as 145-moneyline favorites on Bet Online Sportsbook’s Live MLB Baseball Odds.
Tigers RH Doug Fister (5-13, 3.49 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (11-8, 3.04).
Fister is 2-1 in four starts with the Tigers and has allowed 11 earned runs in 21 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs in seven innings and lost to Tampa Bay on June 4 while he was with Seattle. Fister is 1-2 lifetime against the Rays, allowing eight earned runs in 19 innings. Ben Zobrist is 5-for-11 with three RBIs against Fister.
Hellickson pitched eight shutout innings against Seattle Saturday in his last start to win for the fourth time in five decisions. He allowed only two runs in 6 1/3 innings at Detroit May 23 but took the loss. Hellickson is 1-1 lifetime against Detroit. The current Tigers are 8-for-43 (.186) against Hellickson.
Victor Martinez was 0-for-4 on Wednesday, but he has had a lot of luck at Tampa Bay in his career. Martinez is batting .400 (50-for-125) with seven homers and 19 RBIs at Tropicana Field. The Tigers’ other big bopper - Miguel Cabrera - has been held under control by Rays’ pitching in the series with two hits in nine at-bats. He is expected to be put on the paternity leave list and miss Thursday’s game.
Wilson Betemit got a start at third base in the last game. He has lost a little playing time since Brandon Inge was recalled, going only 3-for-18 his last seven games.
Sean Rodriguez didn’t have a hit in the game, but it was his hustle in beating Ramon Santiago to the bag at second that gave the Rays a victory Wednesday. Rodriguez is batting .213, but his versatility and his play-making ability on offense and defense has made him valuable for Tampa Bay. Evan Longoria started the winning rally with his third hit, but erased by a fielder’s choice. Longoria is 9-for-28 in the last seven games with four homers and eight RBIs. Desmond Jennings is 5-for-9 in the last two games after not starting Monday.
The Rays have made 57 errors this season, second least in the majors. Only Philadelphia has made less (56).
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ben zobrist - brandon inge - desmond jennings - detroit tigers - doug fister - evan longoria - jeremy hellickson - miguel cabrera - new york yankees - ramon santiago
