Athletics vs Tigers predictions
Looking at the Athletics, I’ve got my eye on Jacob Wilson—seriously, the dude’s been tearing it up at the plate all season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him rake a couple hits in this matchup and maybe notch a run for his efforts. Brent Rooker also seems like a safe bet to provide a little power; with 15 homers so far, he’s always a threat to go deep or drive in runs. Tyler Soderstrom could chip in as well, especially with runners on. And don’t sleep on Luis Severino on the mound; he’s capable of giving the A’s a solid outing, even if he’s up against some pretty potent bats. If he can strike a balance between keeping the ball in the park and minimizing walks, he could keep things competitive.
As for the Detroit Tigers, Riley Greene is living up to his promise in a big way. His bat stays hot and I can easily see him stacking up the hits and RBIs — he’s already near the top in those categories for the Tigers. With his combination of patience and pop, Greene might just be one of the biggest obstacles for Severino tonight. Kerry Carpenter also brings a reliable swing to the lineup and is likely to contribute both on base and in the power department. Meanwhile, Tarik Skubal starts for Detroit and he’s been lights out at Comerica. If he punches out hitters at his usual rate, the A’s lineup could have some long innings ahead of them.
When it comes to calling a winner, the deck seems to be stacked a little in Detroit’s favor. They’re playing at home (where they’ve been tough) and have shown more offensive depth this year. Unless the A’s can ride their recent road momentum and get some surprises from the bottom of their lineup, it just feels like the Tigers have the edge, especially with Skubal taking the mound. I wouldn’t be shocked if Detroit extends their lead atop the AL Central by the end of the night. But that’s baseball—you never really know until they play the game, right?
