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Tuesday MLB Betting: Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians

The Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians begin a critical three-game series in the American League Central Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

Detroit enters this series with a four-game lead in the divisional race over Cleveland and picked up two of three games in Kansas City on its current road trip.  The Tigers have enjoyed recent success on the road, winning 10 of their last 15 games away from Comerica Park.  The club has also dominated divisional opponents with a 25-14 record, which is the top mark of any AL team in that particular situation.  Tonight’s contest will serve as the seventh meeting in the season series, entering with a 2-4 record, dropping all three previous contests at Progressive Field.

Tigers starting pitcher Doug Fister is 4-12 with a 3.29 ERA in 22 starts this season and has already made an impact since being acquired at the trade deadline from Seattle.  He came away with a 5-4 home win over the Rangers, giving up three runs (two earned) and eight hits over seven frames.  Receiving five runs of support in his first game in a Detroit uniform was comforting to the right-hander, as it tied for the second-most runs he’s received in any outing this year.  Fister has enjoyed little success on the road record-wise, coming in with a 1-6 mark and 3.71 ERA.  He is also winless in four career starts versus the Indians, going 0-2 with a 3.16 ERA.

Cleveland returns home after dropping four of seven games on a road trip against division leaders Boston and Texas.  The Indians have alternated wins and losses over their last five games, while posting a 26-41 mark since May 24, dropping 11 games in the divisional standings over that span.  “We are paying attention.  Everybody’s paying attention,” manager Manny Acta commented.  “We’re not thinking that because you’re four or five games out, you’re out of it.”  A return to Progressive Field may not be the answer, as Cleveland is 2-9 in its last 11 home games.

Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson is 9-7 with a 2.63 ERA in 24 appearances (23 starts) this season and has led the club to consecutive victories.  In his last outing, he allowed three runs and five hits over six frames, leading the team to a 7-3 road win over the Red Sox.  Masterson has tallied solid numbers at home, posting a 4-3 mark and 2.67 ERA.  The 26-year-old will be seeking his first career win against the Tigers, going 0-3 with a 4.76 ERA in eight appearances (five starts).

Bettors will be interested in backing the Indians due to their 8-3 record in Masterson’s last 11 starts as a favorite, while the Tigers are 1-4 as an underdog.