Tigers vs Orioles: Detroit Sends Ace Skubal to Face O’s (Jun 12)

• Our Tigers vs Orioles pick looks at Detroit sending its ace Tarik Skubal to the hill to face Baltimore
• Detroit is jockeying for the best record in MLB, but just got bad news that Jackson Jobe needs Tommy John surgery
• Baltimore is still mired in last place in the AL East, but has played better since firing manager Brandon Hyde
• The teams split the first two games of the series

Tigers Start Skubal After Bad News on Jobe

The Tigers are riding high as they battle for the best record in baseball. They have split the first two games of their series in Baltimore and send ace Tarik Skubal to the hill to try and win the rubber game. They also received bad news on top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe, who needs Tommy John surgery.

Skubal is in contention for his second straight Cy Young Award. The lefty has a 2.16 ERA, has given up 61 hits in 83.1 innings, and struck out 105. He’s only walked 7 batters all season. In his last three starts, he’s thrown 23.2 innings, given up 12 hits, struck out 26, and allowed 1 earned run.

Against Skubal, the Orioles’ Ramon Laureano is 2 for 15 with a home run. Cedric Mullins is 2 for 8 with 2 singles. Ramon Urias is 3 for 11. Ryan O’Hearn is 0 for 2. Gunnar Henderson is 1 for 3.

The Tigers’ offense has slowed down considerably after its hot start. They might need to find a bat or two at the trade deadline. Javier Baez has noticeably reverted to his free-swinging self with only 5 walks all season and an average down to .269. Spencer Torkelson leads the team in homers with 16, but his average is down to .237. He does have an .843 OPS.

The O’s Have Shown Signs of Life Under Tony Mansolino

Baltimore was expected to contend for the AL East title again this season, but got off to a woeful start that cost manager Brandon Hyde his job. However, they have gone 12-11 under Tony Mansolino. It’s probably too little, too late to make a postseason run, but it’s better than the alternative of 100 losses, which was where they were heading when they axed Hyde.

Dean Kremer starts for the Orioles. The righty is pitching predictably based on his career numbers. He has a 4.98 ERA this season. His career ERA is 4.37. He’s given up 83 hits in 72.1 innings, allowing 40 earned runs.

Kremer had two solid starts before his last outing against the Athletics when he gave up 5 earned runs and 8 hits in 5.1 innings.

The Tigers’ Baez is 2 for 4 with a double against Kremer. Riley Greene is 2 for 6 with 2 singles. Zack McKinstry is 3 for 6 with 2 doubles. Gleyber Torres is 8 for 26 with 2 doubles and 2 walks.

Baltimore’s O’Hearn is having an All-Star season with an .875 OPS and 9 home runs. Gunnar Henderson has been hitting well of late and his OPS is up to .783. Adley Rutschman is also seeing his average creep up from the low .200s to .229. Cedric Mullins has slumped for more than a month and his average is down to .233. He’s stuck on 10 home runs.

Tigers vs Orioles Pick: Skubal Has Been Too Good

Although the Orioles have been playing respectably under Mansolino, Skubal is too much for them just as he’s been too much for pretty much all of MLB. The Tigers will take this win easily and cover the 1.5 run line.