Baseball Betting Preview: Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers

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Baseball Betting Preview: Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers

The series that starts on Tuesday between the Cleveland Indians vs. Detroit Tigers could decide first place in the division.

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Despite occasional overtures by the Twins and the White Sox to join the fray, the American League Central has been a season-long race between Detroit and Cleveland. And once the Indians came back to Earth from their stupendous liftoff, the teams have fought in tight quarters.

In fact, from June 6 through July 22, a span of 46 days, they were never more than a game-and-a-half apart. Until this weekend when the Tigers staged a spurt to open up a four-game lead.

Now, it might be time to again close ranks, as Detroit moves in for Tuesday night's opener of a three-game series at Progressive Field -- where the Indians own 11 consecutive wins over the Tigers, including an April 29-May 1 sweep.

Although staff ace Justin Masterson will face off with Detroit newcomer Doug Fister in the opener, the focal point of the series for the Indians will come on Wednesday: Their own newcomer, Ubaldo Jimenez, will be making his first home start.

The Indians have been away, for a week-long trip that concluded on Sunday night in Texas with a 5-3 loss. The Tribe retreats home, seeking to regain the magic that helped it win 19 of the club's first 23 home games.

"They've been fantastic at home with a lot of dramatic wins this year," noted Leyland. "They've got a lot going for them. [Manager] Manny [Acta] has done a tremendous job. They've had some injuries, but they've played above injuries. They've done everything you could ask."

Little has changed in the nearly two months since the division contenders last met, on June 16. The Tigers came out of that series with a 38-31 record and a one-game lead over the 36-31 Indians.

Masterson has crafted an ERA of 1.97 ERA over his last 12 starts. Despite Monday's off-day, he will make the start on his regular four days' rest, moving up in the rotation in place of Carlos Carrasco, serving a suspension for dusting off Kansas City's Billy Butler on July 29.

Cleveland will get the win in the first game of the series as they show they are ready to take on the Tigers for the top spot.