Slowly but surely, the Yankees are returning to form as we turn the final corner, having won five of their last six series.
In that time, they rank No. 2 overall in weighted runs created plus (wRC+) with 149; this mark indicates their overall run production, but is adjusted to external factors such as ballparks (100 being the league average).
Detroit just swept one of the game’s premiere pitching staffs, the Mariners, yet it is still a long shot to make the postseason.
The Tigers were swept by the Yankees in early May.
Neither Carlos Rodon nor Keider Montero pitched in that series.
Rodon has played a big part in the Yankees positive trends over the last several weeks.
The southpaw is rolling into Saturday with four straight wins that have made for a 2.22 ERA in 24¹/₃ innings pitched.
Montero has an impressive fastball but is vulnerable to power hitting (1.98 home runs per nine innings), doesn’t deliver many strikeouts and has been saved by timely run support in his two wins leading to this game.
The Yankees should serve as kryptonite to all three of those points in this matchup.
Learn all you need to know about MLB Betting
- Read about the Best Baseball Betting Sites
- Learn all about How to Bet on Baseball
- Get the latest World Series Odds
Granted, he’s been provided with ample run support in those outings, but he’s still thrown at least six strikeouts in each start.
He’ll draw a Tigers lineup that reaches bases at the third-worst rate after selling pieces at the deadline and promoting a handful of prospects into the fold.
The play: Yankees -1.5 runs (BetMGM)