Friday’s series opener starts at 7:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium with Gerrit Cole (3-1, 1.71) on the mound for the hosts. The Tigers counter with youngster Tarik Skubal (0-3, 5.21).
Tigers Tamed in Chicago
The Tigers managed just five hits over 14 innings in Thursday’s doubleheader. They struck out 12 times in the opener against Carlos Rodon and were shut out by Dylan Cease in the nightcap.
The Tigers rank dead last in the American League in batting average (.208), on-base percentage (.268), and runs per game (2.9). Rookie Akil Baddoo leads the team with 13 RBI on four homers, while Ramos has a team-best six homers. Only Baddoo (.262) and third baseman Jeimer Candelario (.264) are batting over .250.
Skubal threw 2 ⅔ innings in his last outing and has yet to win on the road as a Major Leaguer. He has 12 walks and 17 strikeouts over 19 innings this season while allowing five homers.
He has never faced the Yankees or any of the hitters in their current lineup. Skubal is 1-7 as a Major Leaguer in 13 outings and 10 starts while allowing 14 home runs in 51 innings.
Yankees Homer or Bust
The Yankees lead the American League with 32 home runs in 24 games but are 13th in runs per game at 3.7. They have more home runs than doubles and are 12th in the AL, batting .215 as a team.
Giancarlos Stanton has six home runs to go with a .229 average, while Aaron Judge has five home runs on the season. Gio Urshela (.278) and DJ LeMahieu (.270) lead the team in batting average, while four regulars are batting under .190.
When the Yankees have the lead, the bullpen has been solid. Aroldis Chapman has four saves in seven shutout innings. Chad Green (0.68), Darren O’Day (2.25), Luis Cessa (1.54), and Jonathan Loaisiga (1.23) have been spectacular over nearly 50 relief innings.
Cole has been the bright spot for the 2021 Yankees rotation with 50 strikeouts and three walks in 31 ⅔ innings. Last time out, he beat the Cleveland Indians with 11 strikeouts over seven innings.
While most of the Tigers lineup remains hitless against Cole, Robbie Grossman is 2-for-3 with a homer, and Ramos is 2-for-7 with a home run. Miguel Cabrera is 1-for-9 against Cole, while Niko Goodrum is 0-for-6.
Betting Analysis
While the Yankees have taken a step back from the last two seasons offensively, this one is a mismatch on paper. A former Cy Young winner facing an inept lineup while a youngest who gives up an alarming amount of homers and has never won on the road goes against a power-laden starting nine. The Yankees are -360 with a -1.5 run line and a total of eight runs. The Tigers are +295 to win the series opener.
FREE PICK: Yankees -1.5 (-160)