On July 7, 2024, baseball action heats up with the Detroit Tigers taking on the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ball Park starting at 01:40 PM. Clear skies are expected, setting the stage for an exciting game.

Detroit will send Tarik Skubal to the mound, who has maintained an impressive ERA of 2.447 this season. Counterpart Graham Ashcraft, pitching for the Reds, brings a higher ERA of 5.450, posing a contrasting challenge in this duel. The Tigers, currently 11th in the AL Central Division, hold a 41-48 record, while the Reds also sit 11th in the NL Central with a 42-47 record.

A deeper look into their performance shows the Tigers with a slightly better divisional record and on a two-game winning streak, while the Reds have split their last 10 games but are struggling with a two-game losing streak. The Tigers have scored a total of 366 runs and conceded 389, whereas the Reds have a slightly better offensive output with 381 runs and a tighter defense, allowing 363 runs.

From a betting perspective, the Tigers are marginally favored on the road with a money line of -141 compared to the Reds at +120. The game’s point spread stands at 1.5, suggesting close competition, and the over/under is set at 8.0 runs, reflecting expectations for a moderately high-scoring affair. With Skubal’s lower ERA potentially being a key factor, bettors might lean towards the Tigers covering the spread. However, considering both teams’ recent forms and Ashcraft’s potential for improvement, surprises could be on the horizon in this matchup.