Tigers Look to Avoid Sweep by Rangers

While the BetUS Sportsbook - Detroit will send one ‘happy’ pitcher to the mound tonight.

Veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia takes the mound for the Tigers to make his first big league start in more than a year.

Garcia pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies last season, going 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA in 11 starts before having rotator cuff surgery. Garcia landed with the Tigers when he signed a minor league deal last month and made two starts covering five scoreless innings at Class A Lakeland and Triple-A Toledo.

"It's great to be back in the big leagues this year," Garcia told MLB.com. "When I started doing the rehab, I didn't think I'd be able to come back because I couldn't move my arm. I've worked really hard to get back to pitching. It's a lot of hard work, man, and I'm glad I'm here with Detroit and they're giving me a shot to pitch."

Garcia will face a Texas Rangers (75-77 SU, 78-67-6 O/U, 77-74 RL), team that is looking to complete its first sweep of the Tigers since 2002 after beating their AL counterparts 5-4 on Tuesday by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Right-hander Dustin Nippert (3-4, 6.20) will make his fifth start of the season for Texas after going 2-2 with a respectable 4.64 ERA in his first four starts.

Nippert stymied the Oakland A’s on Thursday, allowing just one run in five innings in Texas’ 6-1 win.

Here is a look at tonight’s key MLB online betting Free Picks.

MLB Odds

Detroit Tigers +1½ -160

Freddy Garcia –R +120

Texas Rangers -1½ +140

Dustin Nippert –R -140

Over 11½ -110

Under 11½ -110

Analysis: I’ve always liked Freddy Garcia and I really would have liked to see the Tigers challenge in the AL this season, but oh well – it is what it is. Detroit will likely spoil Garcia’s big occasion with another inexplicable loss in this contest. Take the Rangers and their prolific offense to get to Garcia at some point before adding insult to injury by pounding Detroit’s atrocious bullpen.

MLB Free Picks: Rangers 7 Tigers 2