Tigers vs. Guardians prediction and odds for Tuesday, May 9 (Value on total)

The Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians continue an early week series as each team tries to close the gap with the Twins for first place in the AL Central.

The Guardians will send out AL Cy Young hopeful Shane Bieber, who will look to continue his fine run this season against a poor Tigers offense, but can Michael Lorenzen limit a Guardians team that is also struggling at the dish.

Tigers vs. Guardians odds, run line and total

Tigers vs. Guardians prediction and pick

These are the two worst offenses in baseball on a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) basis +, which is defined as quality of run scoring chances generated. So, both offenses are struggling and now one of the best pitchers in baseball takes the mound for the Guardians.

Bieber has a 2.96 ERA and is generating soft contact as he still works to find his punch out pitch. He is striking out less than six batters per nine innings, but the Tigers inability to hit balls over the fence is going to leave them from putting runs on the board. Detroit is 27th in home runs.

However, Cleveland is struggling even more. The team is last in home runs this season and hitting only .224 as a group. Lorenzen starts for the Tigers, who has an ERA of 5.14 but his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) is slightly better at 4.86, so some help in the field could help him out. Either way, the Guardians inability to hit is going to make this game a rock fight throughout.

This is a big price to lay with a team that struggles so much at the plate, I prefer the under much more.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.