Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA

Detroit Tigers vs Baltimore Orioles: Can the Tigers reach the playoffs?

The Detroit Tigers are visiting the Baltimore Orioles tonight at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

The Tigers need to finish strong

The Detroit Tigers are fourth in the AL Central with an 80-74 record, including 41-38 on the road. After winning four consecutive games, they lost last night against the O’s. The Tigers have a 3.63 ERA, a .232 batting average, a .293 on-base percentage, and 1.17 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Matt Vierling is the best player on the team with 129 hits, and 74 runs, while Riley Greene leads the team with 24 home runs.

Are the Orioles a real contender?

The Baltimore Orioles are second in the AL East with an 86-68 record and 44-35 at home which puts them 4 games behind the New York Yankees. After losing three straight games, they won the last two. The Orioles have a 3.95 ERA, a .236 batting average, a .303 on-base percentage, and 1.24 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Gunnar Henderson leads the team with 169 hits, and 114 runs while Anthony Santander is on top with 42 home runs.

Betting Trends

The Orioles are 4-8 SU in their last 12 games overall, 5-0 SU in their last 5 home games against Detroit and 6-3 SU in their last 9 games against teams from the AL Central. Baltimore has played under the total run line in 4 of their last 5 games against the Tigers and 5 of their last 6 games against teams from the AL while they have gone over in 4 of their last 6 home games. The Tigers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games overall, 3-9 SU in their last 12 games against the Orioles and 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road. Detroit has played under the total run line in 6 of their last 8 games overall, 5 of their last 7 games against teams from the AL and 5 of their last 6 games against teams from the AL East.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Baltimore Orioles won the series opener 7-1 last night. They can already focus on the postseason, while Detroit needs to keep pushing in order to get there. The Tigers have won 7 of their last 10 games and now have a 26.9% chance to reach the playoffs. They hope to bounce back tonight with Reese Olson on the mound, who is 4-8 for the season with a 3.50 ERA, 95 K, 105.1 IP, and 1.21 WHIP. The Orioles will also give a chance to one young pitcher. They will go with rookie Cade Povich, who is 2-29 for the season with a 5.74 ERA, 60 K, 69 IP, and 1.54 WHIP. Given the stakes, the Tigers need this one badly and will manage to win today.