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From Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, we have the Yankees and Tigers facing off in an AL matchup. The forecast for Sunday calls for light rain and temperatures in the mid-70s. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET.
Yankees’ money line odds are +103, and they are starting Marcus Stroman, while the Tigers have Tarik Skubal on the mound. Detroit is favored at -121 and will be looking to move above .500, as they are 60-64. The Yankees are 1st in the AL East, while the Tigers are 4th in the Central.
New York vs. Detroit Key Information
- Teams: Yankees at Tigers
- Where: Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field Williamsport
- Date: Sunday, August 18th
- Betting Odds DET -121 | NYY +103 O/U 7.5
The Yankees Can Win If…
Marcus Stroman will be looking to build off his last outing, where he faced the Rangers and picked up the win. In that start, he went five innings and only gave up one earned run. Looking back further, Stroman has had a rough outing mixed in with some short starts. For example, he was tagged for seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of work vs. the Blue Jays on August 2nd. Stroman’s ERA for the season is 4.00, along with a record of 8-6. The right-hander has a WHIP of 1.40 and has issued 3.86 walks per nine innings compared to 6.45 strikeouts.
Not only are the Yankees the top-scoring team in the league this season, but they also have the league’s best team on-base percentage and OPS. They have been even better on the road this season, averaging 5.5 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .252, which is 7th in the league, and are 2nd in the league in isolated power.
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have been two of the league’s top power hitters this season, with Judge leading the league with 44 home runs and Soto’s 34 homers being good for 4th in the league. Judge is also hitting .332 for the season, and he has been even better of late, going 11/25 in his last 7 games with three homers. Soto has six homers in his last seven games but is just 6/24 in that stretch.
- The Yankees are 5-5 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Yankees are 3-2 vs. the run line.
- New York has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
- The Yankees have an average of 3.8 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten road games, the Yankees are 8-2
- Looking back across the Yankees last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
- New York has gone 3-0 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Yankees have averaged 6.5 runs per game on offense
The Tigers Can Win If…
Tarik Skubal gets the start for the Tigers today and comes in with a record of 14-4 and an ERA of 2.53. Skubal has made 24 starts this year and has pitched well, as he has a WHIP of .92 and opponents are batting .197 off him this year. Skubal’s last outing came vs. the Mariners, where he picked up the win, going six innings and giving up just one earned run. Before that, he had won three straight starts. Skubal’s ERA at home is 2.35, and he has a record of 8-1 at home.
Over his last four games, Kerry Carpenter has gone 5/16 with three homers and five RBIs. This has helped him move into a tie for the team lead in homers with Riley Greene, who is also the Tigers’ top run producer this season, with 51 RBIs. Greene is batting .264 for the year, and his 17 homers are the best mark on the team.
As a team, the Tigers are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 23rd in the league. Their team batting average of .231 is also 20th in the league. Overall, they are 19th in home runs and 20th in on-base percentage. Detroit is also near the bottom of the league in terms of walks and OPS.
- The Tigers are 6-4 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Tigers are 4-1 vs. the run line.
- Detroit has an over/under record of 3-7 in their last ten games.
- The Tigers have an average of 4.8 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten home games, the Tigers are 5-5
- Looking back across the Tigers last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
- Detroit has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Tigers have averaged 3.7 runs per game on offense
The MLB Little League Classic is bringing a special night of baseball as the New York Yankees face off against the Detroit Tigers in Williamsport, Pa., on Sunday night. This unique event, which bridges Major League Baseball with young fans at the heart of the Little League World Series, promises a thrilling matchup between two of the league’s top stars: Aaron Judge and Tarik Skubal.
Aaron Judge Eyes Triple Crown in a Special Setting
Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is having an incredible season, leading the majors in home runs (44) and RBIs (111) while holding the second-highest batting average at .332. Judge is on the brink of achieving the rare and historic Triple Crown, adding even more excitement to his performance in the Little League Classic.
Judge has a strong record against Tigers’ left-hander Tarik Skubal, with five hits in 11 at-bats, including two home runs and two doubles. As he steps up to the plate in front of an audience full of Little League players, Judge is ready to put on a show.
“I’m excited,” Judge said. “I’ve watched this event for so many years now, and I was hoping we’d get a chance to play here. You’re playing in a game where most of the crowd is Little League kids, and they’re pumped. I think it’s going to be a fun show for all of us.”
Tarik Skubal Aims to Continue His Dominance
Detroit’s Tarik Skubal has been a powerhouse on the mound this season, boasting a 14-4 record and a league-best 2.53 ERA. Skubal has been on fire lately, winning four of his last five starts and delivering quality outings in eight of his last nine games. With 18 strikeouts over his last two starts, Skubal has shown he can dominate opposing hitters.
Skubal faced the Yankees earlier this season, striking out 12 over six innings while allowing just two runs. Although the Tigers lost that game, Skubal’s strong showing against the powerful Yankees lineup will be key as he looks to strengthen his Cy Young bid in this nationally televised game.
“It’ll be fun,” Skubal said about playing in the Little League Classic. “These are the games you want to be in. It means you’re on a good team. It’ll be a great venue for everyone involved.”
Marcus Stroman Leads Yankees’ Pitching
Marcus Stroman will take the mound for the Yankees, bringing an 8-6 record with a 4.01 ERA into the game. After a rough outing against Toronto, Stroman bounced back by holding the Texas Rangers to one run over five innings in his last start. Known for his fiery competitiveness, Stroman has a strong track record against the Tigers, with a 2-1 record and a 1.74 ERA over six career starts.
Stroman’s ability to keep Detroit’s lineup in check will be crucial as the Yankees look to capitalize on Judge’s offensive power and continue their push toward the playoffs.
Tigers’ Momentum Boosted by Torkelson’s Return
The Tigers have been on a hot streak recently, winning five of their last six games. A major boost came from the return of Spencer Torkelson, the top pick of the 2020 draft, who was called up from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday. After spending 58 games refining his swing in the minors, Torkelson made an immediate impact with a double and a triple in Detroit’s 4-0 win on Saturday.
“Tork has done his part to go down and work hard,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’ve seen some good things from him. We’ve also seen him work through a few issues, and we felt it was time to give him some runway here to see those adjustments at this level.”
Torkelson’s resurgence, combined with Skubal’s dominance, gives the Tigers a real shot at challenging the Yankees in this high-profile game.
A Showdown to Remember in Williamsport
As the Yankees and Tigers prepare to clash in the MLB Little League Classic, the stage is set for a memorable night in Williamsport. With Aaron Judge chasing a Triple Crown and Tarik Skubal aiming to boost his Cy Young chances, this game promises to deliver excitement for fans of all ages. Marcus Stroman’s competitive edge and Spencer Torkelson’s return add even more intrigue to a matchup that could have big implications as both teams navigate the final stretch of the season.
The Lean
For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over in this Yankees vs. Tigers matchup. As for a straight-up pick, we are leaning toward the Tigers to come out on top. The Tigers have the best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters, and the Yankees offense has the 3rd lowest team strikeout projection. On the other side, Marcus Stroman has the 3rd worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.
