The Detroit Tigers (35-45) and Colorado Rockies (32-51) meet Friday to kick off a 3-game series. First pitch from Coors Field is set for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Season series: First meeting of 2023; Colorado won the 2022 series 2-1
Detroit won 8-5 as a +134 road underdog Thursday vs. the Texas Rangers earn a split in a 4-game series. The Tigers had dropped back-to-back games to Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday but Thursday’s rally pulled their road record to 17-24. Detroit is 2-3 in its last 5 overall and 5-5 in its last 10.
The Rockies lost 14-3 as +161 home underdogs Thursday vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers losing the series 2-1. Colorado is 2-3 in its last 5 games and 3-7 in its last 10. The Rox sit at 19-22 at home on the season and have the 3rd worst record in the MLB.
Tigers at Rockies projected starters
RHP Michael Lorenzen vs. LHP Austin Gomber
Lorenzen (2-5 3.97 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.14 WHIP 2.2 BB/9 and 6.8 K/9 through 77 IP.
- Last outing: No-decision 5 IP 2 ER 7 H 1 BB 4 K in a 6-3 home loss Sunday vs. Minnesota Twins
- Career vs. Colorado: 1-1 3.98 ERA (20 1/3 9 ER) 14 H 10 BB 12 K across 2 starts and 10 relief appearances
Gomber (5-7 7.01 ERA) makes his 17th start. He has a 1.61 WHIP 3.4 BB/9 and 6.2 K/9 through 77 IP.
- Last outing: Win 5 IP 2 ER 5 H 1 BB 3 K in a 4-3 home win Sunday vs. Los Angeles Angels
- Career vs. Detroit: 1-0 1.80 ERA (15 IP 3 ER) 15 H 4 BB 20 K through 3 starts
Tigers at Rockies odds
- Moneyline (ML): Tigers -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Rockies -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Tigers -1.5 (+125) | Rockies +1.5 (-155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 11 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Tigers at Rockies picks and predictions
Prediction
Tigers 9 Rockies 4
Moneyline
BET TIGERS (-115).
Both Detroit and Colorado are struggling this season. The Tigers are bad on the road and the Rockies are bad at home. Gomber has struggled all season long and has failed to get out of the 5th inning in 4 of his 5 starts in June while recording a 7.04 ERA.
Run line/Against the spread
LEAN TIGERS -1.5 (+125).
I like the Tigers to cover here but bet lightly as both the moneyline and O/U are both safer bets. Detroit is 4-10 in its last 14 games in Colorado but has been the better team this season and might be able to get it done vs. Gomber on Friday.
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 11 (-120).
The Over is 4-0-1 in Detroit’s last 5 games overall and 4-0 in their last 4 interleague games. The Over is 6-0 in Colorado’s last 6 interleague home games vs. a team with a losing record per covers.com.
The only reason this is just a lean is that the Under is 6-1 in their last 7 head-to-head matchups and 6-2-1 in their last 9 meetings in Colorado.
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