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MLB Picks: The Detroit Tigers look to keep their tenuous lead in the American League Central as they begin a three game series with the Indians tonight in Cleveland. Detroit is just two games ahead of the Twins and 2.5 ahead of the White Sox entering this evening's division battle. MLB Picks: Tigers vs Indians MLB Betting Odds at Bodog.com have the Indians listed as a +135 moneyline home dog.

Detroit has had its share of troubles since the All-Star break, going just 5-8 in the 13 games since the mid-summer classic. They are still a respectable 53-47 overall but added to their dismal road record (22-31) after dropping two out of three to the Rangers this week. 

Tigers skipper Jim Leyland will send Edwin Jackson to the mound tonight in hopes that the young hurler can get his eighth win of the season. Jackson is 7-5 in 20 starts this year with a 2.59 ERA. Despite the mediocre record, the six year veteran has been one of the best pitchers in the league, giving up 107 hits and 39 earned runs in 135.2 innings pitched. He also has struck out 104 while walking just 44.

Jackson is 3-4 in 11 starts away from Comerica Park with a 2.35 ERA. He is 2-0 in two appearances against the Indians this year, pitching a total of 14 innings and allowing just nine hits and one earned run.

Cleveland sports a 42-60 record entering tonight's game, but they have played a decent brand of baseball of late. The Indians are coming off a nine game road swing in which they went 6-3 and averaged 6.8 runs per game. Their play since the break has moved them out of the cellar and into fourth place in the Central.

Cleveland will look to keep their positive momentum going with the much maligned Fausto Carmona taking the ball tonight. Carmona, who was demoted to Triple A last month, will make his first big league start since June 4th when he gave up five hits and seven earned runs in two innings against the Twins.

The 25 year old is 2-6 in 12 starts this year with a 7.42 ERA and he his 0-3 in five starts at Progressive Field with a 6.20 ERA. However, Carmona did pitch well versus the Tigers in 0-4 loss back in May as he yielded four hits and two earned runs over 6.2 innings. Between 2006 and 2008 the right hander is 6-2 against the Tigers with a 3.57 ERA.

Tonight's AL Central skirmish is set to start at 7:05pm ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Bodog.com MLB Picks: Tigers vs Indians MLB Betting Odds - July 31, 2009

Detroit Tigers +1.5 (+100), Over 9 (-115), -150 (Moneyline)

Cleveland Indians -1.5 (-120), Under 9 (-105), +135 (Moneyline)

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