The last two teams to open the 2016 season tee it up Tuesday in Miami. The Tigers are hopeful some big-name free-agent signings can get them back to the top of the AL Central standings after their four-year run atop the division ended with a last-place finish in 2015.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
Injuries certainly didn’t help the Tigers in 2015 as their streak of four consecutive American League Central Division titles came to an end. Detroit was without Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez for big chunks of the season. Closer Joe Nathan was lost for the year on opening day. Victor Martinez spent some time on the disabled list and struggled throughout the entire season.
The Tigers traded David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria at the deadline, which didn’t help them on their way to a 74-87 record and a last-place finish in the division.
The road to the division title won’t be an easy one. The AL Central could be the best in baseball with the defending champion Royals, the starting rotation of the Indians and a talented young Twins team. Detroit has the talent to contend, but they will need their big names on the field and out of the training room.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Justin Verlander makes his eighth career Opening Day start after a one-year hiatus, a reward for a dominant stretch run last year. Verlander posted a 2.27 ERA and allowed a .207 batting average over his final 14 starts, surrendering 74 hits over 99.1 innings.
Verlander ended the season 5-8 with a 3.38 ERA in 20 starts, ending his string of consecutive seasons with at least 30 starts and 11 victories at nine. He makes just his second career start against the Marlins.
Wei-Yin Chen was acquired to provide the Marlins with a strong one-two punch at the top of their rotation. He spent the first four years of his big league career in Baltimore, posting a 46-32 record and 3.72 ERA in 117 starts.
Chen has made at least 30 starts in three of his last four seasons, including each of the last two, and compiled a career-best 3.34 ERA last season. He’s 1-0 in three career starts against Detroit, despite a lofty 7.53 ERA and five homers allowed in 14.1 innings.
LIVE BETTING
Miguel Cabrera had an elite OPS during the spring so it’s not a stretch to think he’ll get off to a good start this season, especially with both J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton in the Tigers lineup. Cabrera could easily return to his past dominant form if injuries are truly in the past. His Grapefruit League numbers are an indication that they are. Miggy hit .340 with three homers in 19 spring games. Cabrera has faced Chen just four times, despite playing together in the AL the past four years. Miggy returns to south beach where he spent the first five seasons of his big league career with at least 33 home runs in three of those seasons.
QUICK PICK
Miami’s biggest offseason upgrades were made in the dugout. Don Mattingly became the manager after leading the Dodgers to three consecutive NL West titles, and the new batting coach is Barry Bonds. Both earned praise from players during the spring. The team chemistry should be better after the circus atmosphere last season and, more importantly, Giancarlo Stanton is healthy. If Verlander can successfully navigate around Stanton, he should be able to quiet the Marlins. Meanwhile, the Tigers upgraded roster has some big guns and the offense should be in good hands with Cabrera, Upton, Ian Kinsler, and others, making it tough on Chen in his Marlins debut.
Detroit 6, Miami 4
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Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Detroit Tigers versus the Miami Marlins will commence Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at 7:10 p.m. ET at Marlins Park.
