Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the MLB match.
The series between the Detroit Tigers and the Oakland Athletics has taken a volatile turn. After a commanding 11:4 victory in the opener, the Detroit Tigers’ offence was completely silenced in a 0:3 defeat in game two. The third and final game will determine the series winner.
Detroit Tigers
Attention will be on who takes the mound for the Detroit Tigers. Thirty-four-year-old Dietrich Enns is expected to start for the home side. This would be his first Major League Baseball appearance since September 2021. Over the last three years, the veteran left-hander played in Japan and South Korea, though his statistics during that period were underwhelming. Enns signed with the Detroit Tigers in January and has been pitching in the minors ever since.
Oakland Athletics
Supporters of the Oakland Athletics have been buoyed by the emergence of 22-year-old rookie Nick Kurtz. The first baseman, selected fourth overall in last year’s draft, has been on a hot streak, smashing five home runs in his last six games. Two of those were walk-off shots in the final inning. His most notable moment came in the recent 3:0 win over the Detroit Tigers, when he unleashed a 173 km/h homer with two men on base — a game-defining hit that put the result beyond doubt.
Detroit Tigers vs Oakland Athletics Prediction
The Oakland Athletics have no shortage of offensive weapons in their line-up. This young team is averaging 9.94 total runs per game this season. At the same time, the Detroit Tigers have been involved in a number of high-scoring contests, with 9 of their last 10 games finishing over the Total. The pick here is clear.
