Jul 7, 8:49am | 4 min read

Tigers vs. Rangers Prediction: MLB Over/Under Picks

MLB

Matt Zylbert

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Matt Zylbert breaks down his pick for Wednesday's Rangers vs. Tigers game

ANALYSIS

Tigers vs. Rangers Prediction: MLB Over/Under Picks

Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers

Over/Under: 8

First pitch: 2:05 p.m. ET

Probable pitchers: Casey Mize (5-5, 3.55 ERA) vs. Kyle Gibson (6-9, 1.98 ERA)

Tigers vs. Rangers

Wow, Gibson still can’t get respect owed?

This is someone that still has a realistic shot at being the starting pitcher for the American League in the All-Star Game, making this actually the most important start in Gibson’s nine-year MLB career!

After all, this will the final start before the break for the veteran right-hander, as he tries to cement his standing as starter in the Midsummer Classic. He’ll also be drawing a favorable matchup today, too.

The Tigers only score more runs per game than one other AL club (Mariners), and even as is, no lineup has been able to do much damage to Gibson since Opening Day. Following his rough season-opening assignment, not a single opponent has mustered more than three runs with the former Minnesota Twin on the mound — only one time did he even give up three.

And now we have him in this particular spot of being able to leave it all out on the field before a well-deserved lengthy break. Not only that, some of his main competition for All-Star-starting honors is in action today, meaning this should be it.

Mize likely has plenty of All-Star appearances in his future. For now, we’re catching him, too, at an opportune time, closing out a notably impressive first half.

After an up-and-down first showcase during the shortened 60-game campaign last year, the 2018 first overall draft pick has settled in nicely to solidify himself as a ‘ready’ Major League pitcher. In the process, Mize’s delivering consistent work.

The prized 24-year-old held an unfriendly 5.23 ERA coming out of his first four starts of the season. In each of his 12 outings since, though, Mize hasn’t allowed more than three runs, etching a 3.06 ERA within this current stretch, spanning 70.2 frames.

Additionally, Mize shackled hitters to a meager .217/.289/.348 slash line in those starts. Safe to say he’s been in a groove.

The advantage of this being the final date for a starter before getting a lengthy break is we know that Mize will be unloading everything he’s got before getting those crucial several days of rest.

Being a getaway-day series finale, some regulars on both sides might be out also. Either way, pitching will do the lifting here.