Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago Cubs 8/21/24 – The Detroit Tigers will face the Chicago Cubs in a thrilling midweek contest as the season rolls on for the MLB. With major implications between the two sides, this game stands to deliver great baseball action at Wrigley Field under the lights. Now we deliberate on some expert handicapping tips—the teams are hanging around the .500 mark and really need a win to keep themselves alive for contention this postseason.
Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago Cubs 8/21/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 8:05 PM ET |
| Where: | Wrigley Field |
| TV: | –- |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Detroit Tigers (61-65) vs. Chicago Cubs (62-64)
Detroit Tigers fall just short of .500, having 51-57. Offensively, the team has featured a .231 average, 519 runs, and 977 hits. The pitching unit holds a decent collective ERA of 3.82, coupled with an overall 1.19 WHIP. Going back to the total, the UNDER in Detroit’s games has cashed quite often lately, indicating not only the team’s strength in pitching but also its problems in some games with offensive output. Compared to the Rockies and Nationals, Detroit’s offense is about on par with those teams when considering their offensive challenges in hitting the ball and getting runs scored.
On the other side, the Chicago Cubs have mirrored stats with a slightly better offensive edge, holding a .234 batting average and 525 runs. Their slugging and on-base percentages are a shade higher than that of the Tigers, which could be monumental in this game. The ERA for the Cubs is 3.69, but the WHIP is 1.23. As this dovetails with today’s Guardians vs Yankees game, about the home record of the Cubs was one sturdy staying power and the strategic edge in Wrigley Field this season.
Tobias Myers (6-5, 2.81 ERA) vs. Kenta Maeda (2-5, 6.18 ERA)
One of the guys who is set to lead the Detroit pitchers today will be Tobias Myers; he currently boasts 2.81 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Myers has made few hits and walks across as many as ninety-nine point one innings that might matter most in terms of holding back the Cubs’ batters. This season, his ability to produce strikeouts while avoiding home runs has been essential for Detroit’s defensive plan.
The Cubs have a problem though with Kenta Maeda this season, because he carries a 6.18 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP as well. Performance-wise, Maeda’s surrendering of 101 hits in only 90.1 innings together with far too many homers given up may ultimately turn out to be very decisive here; however it could help if they can make him pay for any inconsistency on his part like at times when all the Tigers need is just an opportunity.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Chicago Cubs -1.5 +132, Total Odds: 7.5
The current odds are now slightly favoring the Cubs, mostly because of their stronger batting lineup and home-field advantage. However, where the interest in this game could turn interesting is in total runs, with a trend favoring the UNDER—when giving regard to both teams’ recent performances.
Detroit Tigers Betting Trends
Detroit’s solid performance over the last couple of games, more so away from home against these same Cubs, leaves room for them to do better than expected. Their propensity to low-scoring, competitive games might be enough to cover an admittedly large spread.
Chicago Cubs Betting Trends
Though the Cubs have their inconsistencies, they’re strong at home, 5-1 SU in their last six, and they have better offensive statistics and marginally superior pitching, suggesting they might get by this Tigers team while Maeda looks to rebound.
Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago Cubs 8/21/24 Betting Picks
Today’s game is a tough pick considering the recent form and history between the clubs. This would be one edge to get the job done; the pitching matchup and home-field advantage call out to lean on the Cubs to win themselves while saying the Tigers might cover that +1.5 spread with Myers at the top of his pitching game. This game likely moves toward the UNDER, considering the recent tendencies from both clubs.
Those in need of MLB free picks and beyond can maybe put a prop on the total strikeouts or get into individual efforts like how many innings Myers is going to give. The Tigers could cover, but a more cautious way of stepping this game is probably smart concerning the money line, with as unpredictable as both teams have been.