The Coach's MLB Heavy Hitter - (Bigtime Blowout Potential)
(MLB) Detroit vs. LA Angels,
Point Spread: 1.50 | -150.00 LA Angels (Home)
Result: Win
The Detroit Tigers have won just two of their last eight games and have lost each of the first three in a four-game set at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. They're sending their ace to the mound to avoid getting swept tonight, but that might not help as the Los Angeles Angels have been swinging hot bats so far in this series. The Tigers are coming in overrated, and you should not be surprised if the Halos claims this game outright.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Angels will hand the ball to Matt Shoemaker (3-4, 5.44 ERA) who hurled seven scoreless innings conceding just four hits against the Padres his last start. There's plenty of similarities between that one and his most recent start against the Tigers when he limited them to three hits in seven innings of a 4-0 win on July 26. The Tigers will counter with David Price (4-1, 2.97 ERA) who is coming off seven scoreless innings as well when he held the A's to five hits at Oakland. The Tigers have won each of his last six starts, but all have been one-run ballgames. He lost his lone meeting with the Halos last season, surrendering six runs (five earned) on 11 hits in 6 2/3 frames.

2. Situational - The Angels are 9-2 in Shoemaker's last 11 starts as an underdog and have won 16 of their last 19 meetings with the Tigers, including each of the last six.

3. X-Factor - Erick Aybar has hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games and is likely to rejoin the lineup after sitting out two games with a hamstring injury.

Selection: This is a play on the Los Angeles Angels +1.5 (8*)