Wednesday’s MLB slate features an AL Central showdown between the Cleveland Guardians (58-62) and Detroit Tigers (59-60) for Game 2 of this three-game series at Comerica Park in Michigan. The Tigers won Tuesday’s series opener 6-4 and sit 2.5 games back of the Chicago White Sox for first place in the division and just half a game back of an American League Wild Card spot. The Guardians, meanwhile, are on a three-game losing streak and are 7-16 since the All-Star break but still remain only four games back of the White Sox and two games out of a Wild Card spot.
The Tigers opened the scoring Tuesday with an RBI double by Spencer Torkelson in the second inning, but the Guardians tied it up in the third with rookie Chase DeLauter’s 13th home run of the season. Detroit scored three runs in the fifth inning and added two more in the seventh to take a 6-2 lead at the time and was able to hold on to secure the win despite Cleveland’s Jo Adell hitting his 17th home run of the year in the eighth inning and adding a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
After struggling to stick in the big leagues in limited opportunities between 2020 and 2022 and then spending three years pitching in Japan, 31-year-old Foster Griffin returned to MLB this season as a rookie with Washington and has been one of the best stories of the year, earning the first All-Star selection of his career. Griffin posted a 12-3 record with a 3.06 ERA across 22 starts with Washington before being traded to the Guardians. His Cleveland debut on Aug. 6 unfortunately didn’t go as planned, as he allowed five earned runs, including two home runs, over four innings in a loss to the New York Mets, but he’ll have a chance to redeem himself Wednesday night against the Tigers.
Framber Valdez will oppose Griffin, and he, too, hasn’t made a great first impression with his new team, as the left-hander is 7-7 with a 4.17 ERA in his first season with Detroit.
Guardians vs. Tigers Odds
The Tigers are coming off a victory in Tuesday’s opener and have been playing winning baseball lately, so Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists Detroit as the home favorite for Game 2 of this series:
- Moneyline: Tigers -125, Guardians +115
- Run Line: Tigers -1.5 (+170), Guardians +1.5 (-180)
- Total (Runs): Over 8.5 (+110), Under 8.5 (-120)
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Guardians vs. Tigers Predictions
The Guardians and Tigers may both be under .500, but they’re both very much alive in the AL Central and American League Wild Card race. Head over to Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook and check out the Stats Hub to find valuable baseball betting insights and trends to help make picks for the game like the one below:
Tigers vs. Guardians Best Bet: Spencer Torkelson Over 0.5 Hits (-185)
Spencer Torkelson has been swinging a hot bat, hitting .351 so far in August and riding a five-game hitting streak entering Wednesday. While he was batting just .208 before the All-Star break, the Tigers’ first baseman brings a .302 batting average and an .826 OPS into Wednesday night’s matchup since the break.
Foster Griffin has been incredible this season, but he did just allow seven hits and five earned runs in his last start. Right-handed hitters are also having significantly more success than lefties against Griffin this year, and the right-handed-hitting Torkelson is batting .278 against southpaws in 2026.
- Tigers vs. Guardians Player Prop Pick for Aug. 12: Spencer Torkelson Over 0.5 Hits (-185)
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props for CLE-DET
Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan hit .403 in July and is batting .400 in August while riding a 10-game hitting streak, making his hits prop the most-bet player prop for Wednesday night’s game against Framber Valdez and the Tigers:
- Steven Kwan – Over 0.5 Hits
- Dillon Dingler – Over 0.5 Home Runs
- Kevin McGonigle – Over 0.5 Hits
- José Ramírez – To Record 2+ Hits
- Spencer Torkelson – Over 0.5 Home Runs
Guardians vs. Tigers Game Info
- 📍 Where: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
- 📅 Date: Wednesday, Aug. 12
- ⏰ First Pitch: 6:40 PM ET
- 📺💻 TV/Streaming: MLB.TV
- ⚾ Probable Pitchers:
- Guardians: Foster Griffin
- Tigers: Framber Valdez
More Ways to Bet
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Referenced odds are subject to change.
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