MLB Betting Preview
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees
Friday, 7:05 pm Eastern

Opening Line: Yankees -180, Total 10.5 Over (-120)

Gary Sheffield and the Detroit Tigers continue a very important series in New York on Friday against the Yankees. The Tigers go with Nate Robertson on Friday while New York counters with Andy Pettitte.  It could be another high scoring game on Friday as Robertson is 7-9 on the season with an ERA of 5.01 while Pettitte is 9-7 and has an ERA of 3.93. 
 

Robertson has been a little better in his last two starts but still has not regained his form of last year.  Robertson is 1-4 in six career regular-season starts against the Yankees, including 0-2 at New York.

Pettitte won for the fifth time in his last seven starts on Sunday in Cleveland, holding the Tribe to just two runs and seven hits.  He has had seven straight good starts.  He is 9-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 21 career starts against the Tigers in his career.

Pettitte will have to deal with Sheffield on Friday and that is never easy.  Sheffield ripped into Joe Torre and the Yankees and his reception in New York was not pleasant.  "Sheffield fans are going to be Sheffield fans," he said. "And anyone who isn't a fan of mine, they'll do what they always do, whether it's there or anywhere else. I can't say when I played there every fan was my fan. They were fans when I hit a home run, so that's all that is."

Current Line: Yankees -180, Total 10.5 Over (-125)

The Tigers continue to battle the flu but it has not hurt their production. Justin Verlander, Placido Polanco and Craig Monroe continue to battle the flu and Ivan Rodriguez was out of the lineup Wednesday. Todd Jones wasn't feeling well either.  One player that is feeling strong is outfielder Curtis Granderson who has been superb of late.  He has made a number of great diving catches recently. "You play offensively when you're on defense," coach Andy Van Slyke said. "You're in an aggressive, offensive mode. I don't even know if Curtis dives for that ball last year. His caution ruled his play. You have to throw caution to the wind if you want to elevate your game."

The Yankees optioned Tuesday's starter, Jeff Karstens, and right-handed reliever Jim Brower to Triple-A. They released left handed reliever Mike Myers. Roger Clemens returned to the Yankees on Wednesday and is getting ready for his start on Saturday.

Here were the betting statistics heading into Thursday’s action.  The Tigers are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. the American League East. The Tigers are 17-7 in their last 24 road games vs. a left-handed starter. The Tigers are 6-14 in their last 20 overall. The Tigers are 2-7 in their last 9 road games. The Tigers are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record. The Tigers are 0-4 in their last 4 Friday games. The Tigers are 6-13 in Robertson's last 19 starts. The Tigers are 9-20 in Robertson's last 29 starts as an underdog. The Tigers are 0-4 in Robertson's last 4 road starts vs. the Yankees. The Tigers are 6-20 in the last 26 meetings in New York.

The Yankees are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record. The Yankees are 26-9 in their last 35 games as a home favorite. The Yankees are 92-36 in their last 128 home games vs. a left-handed starter. The Yankees are 23-9 in their last 32 overall. The Yankees are 36-15 in their last 51 vs. the American League Central. The Yankees are 7-1 in Pettitte's last 8 starts.

The Yankees are 21-6 in Pettitte's last 27 starts vs. the American League Central. The Yankees are 39-13 in Pettitte's last 52 starts as a home favorite.

The Yankees are 15-6 in Pettitte's last 21 Friday starts. The Yankees are 4-0 in Pettitte's last 4 home starts vs. the Tigers.

The Over is 6-0-1 in the Tigers last 7 Friday games. The Under is 4-1 in the Tigers last 5 overall. The Under is 4-1 in the Tigers last 5 road games. The Over is 19-7-3 in the Tigers last 29 games vs. a left-handed starter. The Under is 15-7-2 in the Tigers last 24 vs. the American League East. The Under is 5-1 in Robertson's last 6 starts as a road underdog. The Over is 4-1-2 in Robertson's last 7 Friday starts. The Under is 5-2 in Robertson's last 7 starts vs. the American League East. The Under is 4-1 in Robertson's last 5 starts vs. the Yankees.

The Over is 4-0-1 in the Yankees last 5 games as a home favorite. The Under is 5-2-2 in the Yankees last 9 home games vs. a left-handed starter.