Detroit Tigers vs Los Angeles Angels Picks and Predictions August 29th 2024

Tigers eye 7-game win streak as Angels try to halt skid

Thursday’s forecast in Detroit calls for clear skies and temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. The Angels and Tigers are set to face off at 1:10 PM ET from Comerica Park in Detroit. The Tigers are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -161 compared to the Angels at +136. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs.

Los Angeles comes in with a record of 54-79 and is starting Jack Kochanowicz. As for the Tigers, they are 68-66 and will have Keider Montero on the mound. Detroit is currently on a six-game winning streak and is 4th in the AL Central, while the Angels are 5th in the AL West. BSW will be televising Thursday’s game.

Los Angeles vs. Detroit Key Information

• Teams: Angels at Tigers
• Where: Comerica Park Detroit
• Date: Thursday, August 29th
• Betting Odds DET -161 | LAA +136 O/U 9

The Angels Can Win If…

Jack Kochanowicz and the Angels are on the road to take on the Tigers today. Kochanowicz has started 3 games this season and has a win and a no-decision. He has gone at least 6 innings in each of his 3 starts, and his last time out, he went 6 innings and struck out 7 vs. the Blue Jays.

For the Angels to turn around their season, they are going to need their offense to start producing more runs, as they are currently 27th in the league at 3.9 runs per game. As a team, they are also near the bottom of the league in home runs, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Zach Neto and Jo Adell are the top home run hitters for the Angels this season, but Neto is batting just .254, and Adell is hitting just .211.

Currently, Taylor Ward is on an eight-game hitting streak and is batting .290 over his last eight games. During this stretch, he has one home run and three RBIs. Over his last six games, Niko Kavadas has gone just 2/20, and Zach Neto is 5/31 in his last eight games.

• The Angels are 1-9 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Angels are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 3-7 in their last ten games.
• The Angels have an average of 2.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Angels are 2-8
• Looking back across the Angels last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Los Angeles has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Angels have averaged 3.2 runs per game on offense

The Tigers Can Win If…

Keider Montero gets the start for the Tigers today and will be looking to build off his last outing, where he finished with a no-decision. Against the White Sox, he went five innings, giving up two earned runs, and six hits. Montero has made 11 starts this year and has a record of 4-5. His ERA for the season is 5.15, along with a WHIP of 1.33. So far, he has turned in three quality starts and is averaging 7.38 strikeouts per nine innings. Montero’s ERA at home is 5.98 compared to 4.72 on the road.

Riley Greene has been the Tigers’ top power threat this season, as he leads the team with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs. Greene is also batting a solid .262 and has an OBP of .353. Over his last eight games, Colt Keith has been swinging a hot bat, going 11/34 with a home run and eight RBIs. For the season, Keith is batting .262 and has 12 homers.

Overall, the Tigers are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 19th in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in walks, on-base percentage, and OPS. As a team, the Tigers are batting just .234 and have the 19th home run total in the league.

• The Tigers are 8-2 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 4-5-1 in their last ten games.
• The Tigers have an average of 7.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Tigers are 6-4
• Looking back across the Tigers last five games as the favorite, they are 5-0
• Detroit has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Tigers have averaged 5.2 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean would be on the over, as this is projected to be the 3rd highest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight-up, we have our lean on the Tigers to come out on top. Detroit starter Keider Montero has the highest innings pitched projection in the league today and 6th best strikeout projection. On the other side, Jack Kochanowicz has the 7th worst strikeout projection among today’s starters

The Detroit Tigers are riding high, currently boasting their longest winning streak of the season at six games. On Thursday afternoon, they’ll look to keep the momentum going and complete a series sweep against the struggling Los Angeles Angels.

Tigers in Top Form

The Tigers are in the midst of a dominant stretch, having swept the Chicago White Sox in a four-game road series before returning home to take the first two games against the Angels. Their latest victory was a nail-biting 3-2 win on Wednesday, highlighted by Spencer Torkelson’s early two-run homer, which proved to be the decisive blow.

“We find different ways to win,” Torkelson shared after the game. “We’re a versatile team, and one night it’s going to be the pitching staff, another night a couple walks and a bloop, and then sometimes it’s going to be a blast.”

Pitching Duel: Montero vs. Kochanowicz

The Tigers will send rookie right-hander Keider Montero (4-5, 5.15 ERA) to the mound in hopes of extending their streak. Montero has been in solid form, with three wins and a no-decision in his last four starts. His most recent outing against the White Sox saw him give up two runs over five innings, maintaining composure in high-stress situations.

“I like the way he ended his innings,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch remarked. “His breaking balls were a little loose, and he gave up some two-strike hits, but he responded well and got out of the innings. Those are really big outs for a young pitcher.”

Opposing Montero will be fellow rookie right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (1-3, 6.08 ERA) for the Angels. Despite his record, Kochanowicz has shown promise in recent outings, delivering quality starts in his last three games. His last appearance against Toronto saw him give up three runs and seven hits over six-plus innings.

“He was outstanding,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He deserved a better fate. He was getting ground ball after ground ball.”

Strategic Lineup Adjustments

The Tigers’ lineup is particularly left-handed-heavy, a strategy Hinch is leaning into for this matchup. With rookies Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney joining regular lefties Colt Keith, Parker Meadows, Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and utilityman Zach McKinstry, the Tigers are well-equipped to face Kochanowicz. Meadows, who sat out Wednesday’s game, is expected to return to the lineup as Hinch strategically rotates his players to keep them fresh.

“(Thursday), I’m going to be pretty heavy left-handed against their starter,” Hinch explained. “Knowing what we want against each pitcher for the next couple of days, I’m trying to sneak in an off day for the guys, especially those who have recovered from some injuries.”

Angels Struggling to Find Answers

The Angels, on the other hand, are in desperate need of a win to halt their seven-game losing streak. Despite a team meeting aimed at rallying the squad before the series began, they have yet to see those efforts translate on the field.

“There were a lot of good things said (Tuesday) at the meeting about where we’re at as an organization and where we want to go,” veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar commented. “A lot of guys have earned opportunities, and with that, you’ve got to get out and run with those opportunities.”

What to Expect

With the Tigers firing on all cylinders and the Angels struggling to find their footing, Thursday’s game will be a test of whether Detroit can continue their winning ways or if Los Angeles can finally put an end to their slide. The pitching matchup of Montero vs. Kochanowicz promises to be intriguing, especially with both teams’ rookies looking to prove themselves.

Conclusion

As the Tigers aim for their seventh straight victory, the Angels will be battling not just their opponents, but also the weight of their ongoing slump. With strategic lineup decisions and a strong pitching performance, Detroit is well-positioned to extend their streak, while Los Angeles must find a way to turn the tide and avoid a series sweep.

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