The Tigers and Guardians play the second game of their three-game series on Saturday, June 13.
Detroit is a -136 moneyline favorite, while Cleveland is +113 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at over/under 7.5 runs.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Tigers vs. Guardians game.
Tigers vs. Guardians prediction, preview
Good news for the Tigers: Tarik Skubal is back! The two-time Cy Young winner hasn’t pitched since April 29 and has even been considered in trade talks with the team struggling. Getting Skubal back doesn’t solve all the team’s issues, but once every five games, the Tigers will have arguably the best pitcher in baseball on the mound.
While it’s exciting that he’s healthy, don’t expect a huge performance during Saturday’s game against the Guardians. Having not pitched in over a month, Skubal is likely in for a short start. The Tigers will be careful with their ace so he doesn’t make a quick return to the injured list, especially with trade rumors circling. That means Detroit’s bullpen will have more responsibility. The relievers have a collective 4.11 ERA, which ranks 16th in the majors.
The other aspect to consider with Skubal is how well he’ll pitch. Fans are accustomed to Skubal dominating, but it’s possible that won’t be the case this time. Any time a pitcher comes back from an elbow injury, it’s cause for concern. It could take a start or two before Skubal is back to his usual self.
Luckily for Detroit, it may not need an excellent start from Skubal to win. Joey Cantillo is starting for Cleveland, and he’s been in poor form over his last few games. The 26-year-old has allowed seven, four, four, zero, and four earned runs in his past five starts. The one caveat? The scoreless outing was against Detroit. Perhaps Cantillo can replicate that performance.
Tigers vs. Guardians Pick, Best Bet
Morale should be high in Detroit with Skubal returning to the mound. As mentioned, the team will likely be cautious in this outing, but it’s exciting nonetheless. That said, it’s not going to be the reason Detroit wins this game. The Tigers win by taking advantage of Cantillo.
Cantillo pitched 5.2 scoreless innings in his last start against the Tigers, but it’s hard to shut down a team twice within a month.