<p>Four teams in the AL Central are better than .500 at the moment, including the Indians and Tigers, who begin a three-game series in Detroit Friday night. Cleveland was expected to contend for a playoff spot, but Detroit was not. And yet here they are. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
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<h2>MLB Betting Odds </h2>
<p><b>Listed Pitchers:</b> Aaron Civale (1-2, 2.84) vs. Ivan Nova (1-0, 5.74)</p>
<p>Friday's MLB betting odds opened at <a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/sportsbooks/bet365&quot; title="Bet365 Sportbook Info">bet365</a> with visiting Cleveland at around -175 over home-standing Detroit, with an over/under of nine runs. Early betting action then bumped the Tribe about a nickel, to around -180.
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<p>Cleveland could also be found "getting" around -110, giving the run and a half on the MLB run line.
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<h2>Indians vs. Tigers Set-Up </h2>
<p>Cleveland just got swept two games at home by the Cubs, losing Tuesday 7-1 and Wednesday 7-2. The Indians then had Thursday off.</p>
<p>Just before that, the Tribe took two of three games from the White Sox in Chicago, and just before that, they took three of four games from Cincinnati.</p>
<p>At 10-9 overall, Cleveland occupies fourth place in the AL Central, two games behind first-place Minnesota. But the Indians are also just a half-game behind second-place Detroit, and second place makes the playoffs this season.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Detroit just dropped two of three games at home to the White Sox, losing Wednesday's series rubber match 7-5. The Tigers then also had Thursday off.</p>
<p>Just before that, Detroit swept three games at Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>At 9-7 overall, the Tigers trail the first-place Twins by a game and a half in the AL Central, but they're also a half-game ahead of Cleveland and the White Sox in the battle for second place and a playoff spot.</p>
<p>Last year the Indians took the season series from Detroit 18 games to one!</p>
<h2>Friday's Starting Arms </h2>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/40034&quot; title="Ivan Nova Pitching Logs">Nova</a> is 0/3 on quality starts this season. Last Saturday, he gave up five runs and six hits through five innings against Pittsburgh, although the Tigers won that game anyway 11-5. Before that, he came within one out of a QS, holding Kansas City to two runs through 5 2/3 innings, although Detroit lost that game 5-3.</p>
<p>On the season, Nova has allowed ten runs and 17 hits through 15 2/3 innings, with seven walks and eight strikeouts. The Tigers are 2-1 with Nova this year.</p>
<p>Last year, pitching for the White Sox, Nova started four games against Cleveland, allowing 12 runs – 11 earned – and 31 hits through 25 1/3 innings. The ChiSox lost three of those four games.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/280535&quot; title="Aaron Civale">Civale</a> is 3/3 on quality starts this season. Last Friday, he held the White Sox to one run and five hits through seven innings, although the Indians lost that game 2-0. Just before that, he limited Minnesota to three runs through six frames, with nine strikeouts, but the Tribe lost that game 3-1.</p>
<p>On the season, Civale has allowed six runs and 17 hits through 19 innings, with two walks and 23 strikeouts. But the Indians are only 1-2 with him this year.</p>
<p>In three starts vs. Detroit last year, Civale allowed just three runs and 12 hits through 20 2/3 innings. Cleveland won all three of those games.</p>
<h2>Friday's Batting Splits</h2>
<p>Cleveland is batting an ML-low .192 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .306 team OBP and a paltry .281 team slugging percentage. The Indians have also been held to two runs or less 12 times through their first 19 games.</p>
<p>Detroit is batting .209/.278/.386 vs. RH pitching this season. The Tigers have also scored at least five runs four times in their last six games, including 11- and 17-run efforts in the recent series against the Pirates.
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<h2>MLB Betting Trends</h2>
<ul>
<li>Detroit is 4-6 at home this season.</li>
<li>Cleveland is 4-5 on the road this season.</li>
<li>Detroit is 5-5 vs. right-handed starters this season.</li>
<li>Cleveland is 8-8 vs. RH starters this season.</li>
<li>Detroit is 5-6 as an underdog this season.</li>
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<h2>Totals Report</h2>
<ul>
<li>Unders are a lopsided 15-4 in Indians games this season.</li>
<li>Unders are 9-7 in Tigers games this season.</li>
<li>Unders played 40-35 in games played at Comerica Park last season.</li>
<li>Unders played 10-8 in Indians-Tigers games last season.</li>
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1263885">Cleveland at Detroit MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
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