Guardians vs. Tigers Game 4 prediction: ALDS odds, picks, best bets

It’s pretty much been all or nothing in the ALDS between the Guardians and Tigers. Cleveland was first to draw blood with a 7-0 shutout in Game 1, but then the Tigers returned the favor with back-to-back 3-0 shutouts to take a 2-1 series lead.According to the Associated Press, the last time a playoff series began with three straight shutouts was in 1905.

Cleveland has now gone 20 straight innings without scoring a run.Although the situation looks bleak for the Guardians, I’ll share why they offer value in Game 4 on Thursday with their backs against the wall. Tanner Bibee will make his second start of the series after getting the nod in Game 1.Despite having a 5-0 lead when he left the game, Bibee didn’t pitch deep enough to qualify for the win.It’s not that he pitched poorly.

Manager Stephen Vogt simply decided to turn the game over to his bullpen after Detroit’s Parker Meadows reached base in the fifth inning with a single.In 4 ⅔ innings of work, Bibee threw 76 pitches, scattered four hits and finished with six strikeouts. Perhaps Vogt was already thinking ahead for later in the series by keeping his right-hander fresh and not exhausting his pitch count.The Guardians already have a ton of confidence in the California native after naming him their starter for Game 1. After all, Bibee posted a respectable 3.47 ERA with a 3.56 FIP.He also led Cleveland pitchers with a Wins Above Replacement value of 3.3. In his last three outings against the Tigers (15 ⅔ innings), he’s surrendered just three runs. There are undoubtedly fine margins in this series, considering neither team has swung a hot bat.

As a result, it’s difficult to get too excited about the Tigers in this spot.Detroit is just one game away from the ALCS despite Tarik Skubal (6.3) being the only starting pitcher with a WAR value above 1.2. It’s been a bit of smoke and mirrors regarding how the Tigers have put together these wins. Manager A.J.Hinch, a former catcher, is known for ...