The Detroit Tigers have pulled themselves back up to a respectable level after a horrendous start to their 2008 Major League Baseball campaign, but they will head to Yankee Stadium on Tuesday to begin a three-game series with the only team in baseball with a higher payroll than Detroit, the New York Yankees. This pitching match-up will be a prototypical duel of youth versus experience. BetOnline.com has the New York Yankees –130 odds favorites against the Detroit Tigers +110 with the over/under set at 11 runs.
The Tigers will hand the ball to 43-year-old Kenny Rogers (1-3, 7.66), and the 20-year southpaw was rocked for six runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings in his last start. However, he ended up with a no-decision as his team stormed back for a 19-6 pounding of Texas. Rogers seems to be regressing so far this season, but that may be more indicative of the team-wide funk that the Tigers found themselves in as they were buried by ultra-high expectations. Rogers has not faced the Yankees since 2004, and he was shelled for six runs on eight hits in four innings of a 7-6 loss at New York.
The Yankees will send 21-year-old Phil Hughes (0-3, 7.85), and the second-year pitcher is still looking for his first win of the season. Hughes lasted just two innings in his last start due to a rain delay, allowing only one hit in a 7-6 loss at Chicago, and it is a mystery why he never made it to the third inning after the first stoppage of play. This may not have been a good move for a young pitcher who is struggling for confidence in the first place, so to take him out of the game when he is pitching well may backfire on the Yankees. Hughes fell in his only start against the Tigers last season, allowing five runs on four hits over six innings of a 5-4 loss in Detroit.
This is the first meeting of the season between two of the clubs many experts felt would be near the top of the American League, as they split eight meetings in 2007. Both of these teams can put a ton of runs on the board, but their pitching has not matched the power of their offenses. Rogers may have just enough experience to pitch himself out of his slump, while the young Hughes may be severely lacking confidence, which is never a good thing when you play for arguably the most famous baseball team in the world. Look for the Tigers to snatch the first game of this set in what should be a high-scoring affair. Get your Free MLB Pick in Now!
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees – 7:05 PM ET
Free MLB Pick: Detroit Tigers
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