Tigers vs. Guardians: ALDS Game 2 predictions, odds and picks — Oct 7, MLB 2024
After a scheduled off day, the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians will resume their American League Division Series showdown. The two teams met on Saturday for Game 1, but MLB staggers off days to ensure that there are games every single day.
The Guardians put the home-field advantage to good use with a 7-0 drubbing of the Tigers to take a one-game lead. Today, they play their second home game in a row and will try to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Tigers vs. Guardians Recent Form and Records
The Tigers had been red-hot before entering the playoffs. They had won seven of eight before a two-game slide after they had already secured a playoff spot. They kept the overall momentum going by sweeping the Houston Astros.
The Guardians had long clinched the division, but they also experienced a slide going into the playoffs. They lost two in a row and were 5-5 before entering the postseason. They responded after the bye with a dominant win.
Players to Watch
Starting Pitchers
Tarik Skubal (18-4, 2.39 ERA, 228 SO) vs. Matthew Boyd (2-2, 2,72 ERA, 46 SO)
Tarik Skubal has a 0.92 WHIP and 228 strikeouts in 192 innings.
Last Start: (playoffs) Six innings, four hits, no earned runs, one walk six strikeouts.
Career vs. Guardians: 2-2 with a 3.46 ERA and 44 strikeouts in eight appearances.
Matthew Boyd has a 1.13 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched.
Last Start: Four innings, four hits, two earned runs, three walks and six strikeouts.
Career vs. Tigers: 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and five strikeouts in two appearances.
Must-watch hitters
Tigers
Parker Meadows has eight hits in his last six games, including four runs, a double, a home run and two walks.
In just two games played against the Guardians, Kerry Carpenter has three hits. All three of them went for doubles, and he scored one run in those games.
Guardians
Jose Ramirez was 1.3 with a double, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored against the Tigers in Game 1. He is also coming off a fantastic regular season with 39 homers and 41 stolen bases.
Lane Thomas was hot down the stretch and he blasted a decisive three-run home run early on in the series-opening win against Detroit.
Tigers vs. Guardians Baseball Betting Odds
Tigers vs. Guardians Expert Predictions
The Guardians are the overall better team in this series, yet they are underdogs at home. That's due to Tarik Skubal getting the start. He is the presumptive AL Cy Young winner, and he gives the Tigers a great shot at winning.
Matthew Boyd has pitched well in limited action, but he's no Skubal. Even at home, the Guardians might struggle against the Tigers, who also have a rested bullpen after their day off.
Run Spread: +1.5
Total Runs: Over 6
Prediction: Tigers 5, Guardians 2