Miami Marlins at Detroit Tigers
Over/Under: 9
First pitch: 10:10 a.m. PT
Probable pitchers: Trevor Richards (1-5, 4.44 ERA) vs. Matthew Boyd (4-4, 3.41 ERA)
A very curious decision on the part of the linesmakers in tabbing the same over/under for this Marlins-Tigers series finale as last night’s middle affair between the two clubs — 9, despite today’s meeting featuring the noticeably stronger pitching matchup.
It was Daniel Norris who started for Detroit last night and while he’s been pretty good, he hasn’t been nearly as consistent as Boyd, the starter for this evening.
The 2013 sixth-round draft pick has been enjoying his best season to date, at least up to this point, as he’s registering career-best marks in ERA (3.41), WHIP (1.01), batting average against (.214) and K/9 (10.83). Boyd’s 73 strikeouts actually rank him fifth in the American League, which is quite impressive for a guy who never averaged a strikeout per inning previously.
Boyd’s consistency should also be appreciated, in that he’s allowed more than three runs in a start only once in 10 assignments this year. That came in his most recent effort but the southpaw will have the right opponent to get back in rhythm here, taking on the Marlins, who, as I wrote about yesterday, are dead-last in team OPS (.607) against left-handed pitching. That’s not ideal when having to deal with a pitcher could be an All-Star.
Going for Miami is Richards, an at-least equal comparison to last night’s starter Jose Urena. Richards has arguably been better at times as well.
In his second season now, the 26-year-old has shown some real potential at the major league level, like when he began his campaign with three straight quality starts. It’s been a little bumpy since then but he is coming off a quality start opposite the Mets that resulted in his first win of the season.
That should put Richards more at ease, which can only help to keep it going. He has a favorable draw, too, getting to tangle with the Tigers, a team that’s dropped eight in a row and isn’t very intimidating at the plate in general. During the eight-game losing streak, they’ve totaled only 19 runs.
Perhaps above everything, my favorite unders umpire throughout the years, DJ Reyburn, will be behind the plate doing the balls and strikes. He has a bigger-than-average zone and should take care of us — and the pitchers — as he always seems to do. Play: UNDER 9 (-110)
Yesterday’s Result: Marlins-Tigers Under 9 (Push)
Zylbert’s 2019 MLB Over/Under Betting Record*: 28-24-3, +1.3 units
*Each bet graded as if it were to win 1 unit
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