The Chicago Cubs (64-59) are taking a trip to Michigan to battle with the Detroit Tigers (57-67) in game one of their three-game series, which presents opportunities for appealing MLB betting in Tennessee. Will the Cubs be dominant on the road?

When: Game 1 on August 21, 2023 at 6:40 PM ET

Where: Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan

Chicago Cubs Sox Preview

The Cubs have managed to inch closer in their division, as they are second in the NL Central behind the leading Milwaukee Brewers by three games. They have gone 3-2 over their span of recent five games, which were easy encounters against the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox. Javier Assad is getting the start on the mound for game one and is 2-2 this year (3.11 ERA, 1.25 WHIP)

They have shown to be solid at the plate with a batting average of .254. They also do a decent job at limiting their opponents opportunities at the plate, with an average at .245. If their pitching improves, they could easily step up in the division.

Their on-base percentage is appealing at .331, which is good to see them making things happen at the plate. Their pitching is slightly better than the Tigers, with an ERA of 4.15, which could make the difference in the game.

The Cubs have gone 6-4 in their previous 10 games with mixed results against strong and weak teams. They have shown to be a toss up on the road at 29-29, which needs to improve if they want the chance to catch the Brewers.

Detroit Tigers Preview

The Tigers are back 7.5 games behind the leading Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. They have gone 4-1 in previous games leading up to this series, which included strong performances against the Twins and Cleveland Guardians. Alex Faedo is their starting pitcher for game one, but is 2-4 this year (5.16 ERA, 0.99 WHIP).

They need to showcase better offense if they want a shot at winning, as they have a .235 batting average. They also allow .246 from their opponents, which spells out bad news for the Tigers that play against good ball clubs who create good offense at the plate.

Their chances at getting on base is not as appealing as the Cubs, with a percentage at .300. Their ERA is also slightly worse, as they average 4.42.

The Tigers have gone 6-4 over their most recent 10 games against good teams. They are not dominant at home, as they have a record of 26-33.

Betting Odds

ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook gives you the best opportunity to bet on MLB in Tennessee on this matchup. The following odds reveal that the Chicago Cubs are slightly favored to win.

Detroit Tigers: +115

Run Line: +1.5 (-140)

Chicago Cubs: -135

Run Line: -1.5 (+120)

Totals: Over 9 (-105), Under 9 (-120)

The Cubs have managed 127 more runs overall on 74 more hits this season compared to the Tigers. They have also been able to bomb 25 more home runs, showing that they are a slightly better offensive team.

Photo Credit: © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports