1:10 pm
May 16

Cubs @ Tigers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Cubs (18-20)

@ Detroit Tigers (14-25)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Hendricks (CHC): 2-4; 6.23 ERA

Boyd (DET) 2-3; 1.94 ERA

 

Current odds:

Chicago Cubs: (-140)

Detroit Tigers: (+130)

 

• Matthew Boyd has made it much more difficult for batters to square up on his pitches this season. The Detroit Tigers left-hander has pitched 41 2/3 innings and given up just one homer. He’ll look to keep the hitters off-balance when he starts the finale of a three-game home series against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Boyd (2-3, 1.94 ERA) was consistently victimized by the long ball over the last two seasons. He gave up an American League-high 39 homers in 2019 and tied for the major league high with 15 homers allowed during the 60-game 2020 campaign.

• The only time Boyd has faced the Cubs came during a brief relief appearance early in his career. Kyle Hendricks, who will start for Chicago, has only pitched against Detroit twice in his career, going 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA. Hendricks’ season has gone in the opposite direction of Boyd’s, especially regarding the long ball. He’s allowed 11 in 34 2/3 innings after giving up 10 in 81 1/3 innings last season and 19 in 177 innings in 2019.

• He won’t be facing one of the best Tigers hitters, Jeimer Candelario, on Sunday. Hinch was planning to give him a day off and now the team is crossing its fingers he can play during their upcoming trip to Seattle. Candelario left Saturday’s 9-8, 10-inning victory after getting hit on the knee by a pitch.

• Chicago activated center fielder Ian Happ (left rib contusion) prior to Saturday’s game. He went 0-for-5.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Chicago Cubs
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