MLB Betting - Tigers, Angels climbing back into AL playoff picture

Understanding sports betting lines for MLB during the regular season requires patience. After all, the Marlins and Blue Jays sure looked dominant one month in, didn’t they? On the flip side, some teams that were labeled MLB betting contenders before the season started – including the Tigers and Angels – are rounding into form after slow starts. For the Tigers, the young arms are leading the turnaround, whereas improving health is the name of the game for the Angels.

Tigers vs Angels odds: Tigers are 12-3 against the AL West this season

• Verlander pitching as well as anyone on the planet right now
• Young Edwin Jackson, Rick Porcello have been pleasant surprises for Detroit
• Kelvim Escobar makes his long-awaited return

Tonight, 7:05 p.m. ET
Tigers vs Angels odds: Justin Verlander (6-2, 3.63) vs Ervin Santana (0-2, 9.50)

Whoa, daddy. Hopefully you bet on Justin Verlander’s turnaround at your sportsbook - you’d be rich by now. He’s been absolutely on fire since the beginning of May and has been the best pitcher in baseball over the last month, with four wins, a 1.57 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 34.1 innings. His velocity is up – way up – not to mention he’s pitching with confidence, and he dominates at Tigers Stadium (1.08 ERA this season). Some MLB betting fans may think Verlander is a trap in the Tigers vs Angels odds, because the Angels rocked him for seven runs in five innings on April 22, but he’s given up seven runs in two and a half months since then.

Ervin Santana should turn things around eventually but he’s simply not recovered from his DL stint yet. Don’t bet on him until he finds himself.

MLB Betting Pick: Bet on the Tigers.

Saturday, June 6, 7:05 p.m. ET
Tigers vs Angels odds: Edwin Jackson (5-3, 2.30) vs Kelvim Escobar (NR)

This should be interesting. The flamethrowing Escobar has battled back from numerous injuries and makes his first start since 2007. He’ll be in tough against sluggers like Magglio Ordonez, who has a .417 lifetime average against him. His counterpart, Edwin Jackson, is finally realizing the vast potential he showed as a former top prospect with the L.A. Dodgers. Great strikeout-to-walk ratio (57:18), great WHIP (1.08), great opponents average (.216) – he’s been unhittable in every way imaginable this MLB betting season.

However, part of betting online is about recognizing hidden trends and predicting the unpredictable. Jackson’s season numbers are great, but check out these numbers: .556, .417, .375, .600, .667. Those are the career averages of Chone Figgins, Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, Gary Matthews Jr. and Kendry Morales against him. OUCH. This lineup absolutely owns Jackson, so it should give Escobar good run support as he works off the rust.

MLB Betting Pick: Bet on the Angels.

Sunday, June 7, 1:05 p.m. ET
Tigers vs Angels odds: Rick Porcello (6-4, 3.70) vs Joe Saunders (6-4, 3.77)

Check out the 20-year-old phenom Porcello’s May numbers: 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA. He’s more than lived up to the hype for the Tigers this season. He’s a tempting sportsbook bet on Sunday, though most of his good starts this season have come against weak offenses; the Red Sox and Yankees absolutely pummeled him. The Angels are last in the American League in homers, so they probably won’t hurt Porcello too much on Sunday.

The numbers certainly don’t favor Joe Saunders in the Tigers vs Angels odds. His road ERA is more than a run higher than his home ERA, he struggles in day games (5.14 ERA), and the Tigers pounded him in his last start against them. Curtis Granderson is Saunders’ daddy (1.323 OPS in 11 plate appearances against him), so he’ll lead the offensive charge as the Tigers maul the Angels in the rubber match.

MLB Betting Pick: Bet on the Tigers.

For more MLB lines and MLB betting analysis, keep reading the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com.

Before his arm flamed out, Dale “Skip” Lalonde was famous for his high-90s heat and power at the plate. He retired young but never turned his back on baseball, earning the nickname “Skip” for his high-school coaching prowess. A true student of the game, he loves crunching the numbers when he handicaps baseball. Email Comments@BetOnline.com.