Sports Odds

The Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers both find themselves chasing the Kansas City Royals in the American League Central standings heading into the series opener of a three-game set at Comerica Park Tuesday.

Coming off a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, the New York Yankees have emerged as serious contenders on the odds to win the World Series and the American League pennant this season.

The AL East-leading Yankees (16-9) are at 20-1 odds to win the World Series and tied with the Red Sox at 7-1 to win the pennant behind a pair of AL Central teams that are virtually tied for the division lead.

Two of the early favorites to win the 2015 World Series will meet again at Fenway Park on Tuesday in the second game of a three-game interleague series between the visiting Washington Nationals and the host Boston Red Sox.

The San Francisco Giants have won the World Series in three of the past five years, and they are sitting at 20-1 to repeat that feat this season as one of 13 top contenders with odds that high or better at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.

When handicapping baseball, most bettors start the process with starting pitching.

A great starting pitcher can completely take over a game and leave opposing offenses stymied. While a pitcher can do his part on the mound to hold back the opposing team's offense, there isn't much that he can do to get his own team's offense going.

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is a .542 career hitter vs. San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Friday, as the two teams face off at Chase Field.

The Cleveland Indians have won four of their five meetings against the Detroit Tigers this season, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Friday, as the two teams prepare to meet at Progressive Field.

Sports bettors will find that the Indians are minus-125 home favorites in the pro baseball odds, with the betting total sitting at 8.5 in the market.

The New York Yankees have scored four or fewer runs in 12 of their last 13 games, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Friday, as they prepare to take on the Oakland Athletics at the O.co Coliseum.

Sports bettors will find that the Yankees are plus-170 road underdogs in the pro baseball odds, with the betting total sitting at 7.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this American League matchup from a betting perspective while offering up a prediction along the way.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander is 9-10 with a 5.26 ERA in 20 career road starts against the Cleveland Indians, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Tuesday, when the two teams face off at Progressive Field.

Sports bettors will find that the Tigers are minus-145 favorites in the pro baseball odds, with the betting total sitting at 7.5 in the market.

Zack Greinke has registered a 3-0 record and 1.72 ERA in five starts against the Arizona Diamondbacks since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Friday, as the two teams face off at Dodger Stadium.