- The Detroit Tigers have a chance to eliminate the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 of the ALDS on Thursday night
- Tanner Bibbee starts for the Guardians while the Tigers will likely use Reese Olsen after an opener
- Below, see the Game 4 Guardians vs Tigers odds, predictions, and picks
Seven games under .500 at the midpoint of the season, the Detroit Tigers (86-76, 43-38 home) are now one win away from the American League Championship Series. After six pitchers combined for a 3-0 shutout yesterday – giving Detroit a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five ALDS in the process – the Tigers can close out the Cleveland Guardians (92-69, 42-39 away) in Game 4 at Comerica Park on Thursday night (6:08 pm ET).
Cleveland Guardians vs Detroit Tiger Game 4 Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Guardians | -122 | -1.5 (+140) | O 6.5 (-115) |
| Detroit Tigers | +106 | +1.5 (-170) | U 6.5 (-105) |
With Tanner Bibbee on the mound in Game 4, Cleveland is a slight -122 road favorite in the Guardians vs Tigers odds for Game 4. The Tigers come back as +104 home underdogs in Thursday’s MLB odds. Detroit hasn’t officially named its starter, but it’s likely Reese Olson will be asked to shoulder the bulk of the innings after a reliever opens in the first inning.
Odds as of Oct 10 at FanDuel. Read SBD’s FanDuel review before signing-up.
After Tarik Skubal and Kerry Carpenter propelled Detroit to a 3-0 win in Game 2 to even the series, the Tigers’ pen fan the team’s shutout streak to 20 innings in Game 3 on Wednesday.
Despite holding a 2-1 series lead, and pitching 20 straight shutout innings, the Tigers still aren’t seen as a serious contender in the World Series odds. Detroit is still the +750 fifth-favorite, behind the Yankees (+225), Dodgers (+340), Mets (+380), and Padres (+550).
CLE vs DET Game 4 Pitching Matchup: Bibbee vs Olson
| Tanner Bibbee | vs | Reese Olson |
|---|---|---|
| 12-8 | Record | 4-8 |
| 3.47 | ERA | 3.53 |
| 3.80 | xERA | 3.51 |
| 1.12 | WHIP | 1.18 |
| 26.3% | K% | 21.7% |
If baseball statistics were just, Bibbee would have picked up the win in Game 1 of the series on Saturday. He went 4.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and a walk on 76 pitches with six strikeouts. That was the first time in 11 starts he didn’t give up a run, and only the third time in his last eight he didn’t allow at least two earned runs.
Saturday’s performance also stemmed a pretty ugly streak for Bibbee against the Tiger batters. Even factoring in that performance, the Detroit lineup still has a .301 average and .862 OPS against the 6’2 righty in 93 ABs. Matt Vierling has taken him deep twice in 11 at-bats.
In four regular-season starts against the Tigers this season, Bibbee allowed a total of 11 earned runs, 19 hits, and four walks over 22 innings (4.50 ERA).
Olson took a no-decision as well in Game 1. The sophomore righty threw 5.0 innings of three-hit, one-run ball with four strikeouts. But that came after Tyler Holton allowed four runs in the first inning without recording a single out, so Olson’s solid performance went for nought.
Olson made two starts against the Guardians in the regular season and they were, on the whole, better than Bibbee’s starts against the Tigers. In the first on May 8, he was rock-solid, allowing just one earned run on one hit and two walks over 6.0 innings. In the second on July 10, he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over 6.0 innings but with just three punchouts.
Factoring in Game 1 on Saturday, his numbers against the Guardian lineup are excellent. In 57 ABs, he’s limited them to a .175 average and .558 OPS. Lane Thomas and Daniel Schneemann have each taken Olson deep once. Jose Ramirez is just 1-for-8 with a single.
Guardians vs Tigers Game 4 Predictions & Picks
It’s the year of the Tiger, at least for now, and I fully expect Detroit to close out the series in Game 4 at home. The Guardian bats were never the loudest in the league and they have gone stunningly silent over the last two-plus games. Now they’ll have to contend with a talented young pitcher who has pretty much owned them in his brief big-league career.
On the opposite side, I don’t expect another shutout performance from Bibbee. He’s long struggled against this lineup and the Detroit hitters now have the benefit of having just seen his stuff earlier in the week. It’s possible that AJ Hinch’s decision to use six relievers yesterday will come back to bite him, but with Tarik Skubal tapped for a potential Game 5, he won’t hesitate to use every available arm in Game 4.
CLE vs DET Game 4 picks:
- Tigers moneyline (+106) at FanDuel
- Guardians under 3.5 total runs (-120) at ESPN Bet
Sascha Paruk’s 2024 MLB playoff betting record: 16-12 (+4.15 units)
The Cleveland Guardians will face off against the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 of their series on October 10th. Both teams have been battling it out on the field, with the Guardians looking to secure a win and advance in the playoffs, while the Tigers are fighting to stay alive and force a Game 5.
The odds for this matchup are currently in favor of the Guardians, who have been playing solid baseball throughout the series. Their strong pitching staff and powerful lineup have been key factors in their success so far. The Tigers, on the other hand, have struggled at times but have shown resilience and determination to stay in the series.
In terms of predictions, it’s expected to be a close game with both teams giving it their all. The Guardians will likely rely on their ace pitcher to shut down the Tigers’ offense, while their hitters will look to capitalize on scoring opportunities. The Tigers will need a strong performance from their pitching staff and timely hitting to pull off a win.
As for picks, many experts are leaning towards the Guardians to come out on top in Game 4. Their overall consistency and talent give them the edge in this matchup. However, anything can happen in baseball, and the Tigers have shown that they are capable of pulling off upsets.
Overall, Game 4 between the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers is sure to be an exciting and intense matchup. Both teams will be giving it their all as they battle for a chance to advance in the playoffs. Fans can expect a thrilling game with plenty of drama and excitement. Stay tuned to see who comes out on top in this crucial showdown.
