The Chicago White Sox set the record for the most regular season losses of any team in the modern era while the Detroit Tigers clinched their first playoff berth since 2014 in yesterday’s 4-1 Tigers victory. I am going back to that series for today’s matchup as young right-hander Sean Burke gets to take on a Detroit lineup that likely had a long celebratory night. With Burke’s strikeout prowess and the potential for a weak lineup, I see very solid value on Burke over 4.5 strikeouts in this game.
Let’s dive in!
Sean Burke (CWS) over 4.5 strikeouts recorded (-120)
The Detroit Tigers were 55-63 at one point this season, leading to them selling some key contributors at the trade deadline. The team is 31-11 since that low point in the year, and they have clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2014 with their win against the White Sox last night. When you don’t make the playoffs as an organization for an entire decade, and then you accomplish it in such improbable fashion, there is reason to celebrate. Video evidence suggests the Tigers clubhouse did just that, and there is a decent chance we see a somewhat weakened lineup for Detroit Saturday afternoon. The Tigers success has been based on their strong bullpen play and their starting pitching, but their lineup has not been an overly consistent or dominant unit for them this season. One area they have been weak is the strikeout department, and despite a 108 wRC+ against right-handed pitching in the last 30 days the Tigers still have the 8th highest strikeout rate in that sample at 25.1%. Now with the potential for some strikeout candidates to enter the lineup I am looking to fade their bats today.