Free Pick | MLB | Saturday | April 15

Check out Nelly’s MLB 2/3 for daytime action Saturday. We also look to add to a 23-11 NBA run with a series opener Saturday in the NBA Playoffs!

Free Pick Saturday: #972 Detroit Tigers (Lorenzen) +140 over San Francisco Giants (DeSclafani) 12:10 PM CT

Detroit is off to a 4-9 start to the season, but the team has a small measure of momentum with back-to-back wins, beating Toronto Thursday and then winning in 11 innings yesterday hosting the Giants. The early season schedule has been difficult facing the Rays, Astros, and Blue Jays already and while the Tigers aren’t likely to be a playoff threat, they may wind up a more competitive team than the first two weeks of the season suggest. Michael Lorenzen is likely to start for Detroit though the Tigers have been slow to announce an official plan. Lorenzen made 18 starts with decent numbers for the Angels last season and he appears ready to make his Tigers debut after fighting a groin injury out of spring training. He’ll face his former Reds teammate Anthony DeSclafani who has pitched above his head with great numbers through two starts into the season after missing almost all the 2022 season. The Giants have had one of the weakest early season schedules and are still only 5-8 as those expecting a bounce-back to the great run in 2021 may be headed for disappointment. San Francisco is the most strikeout-prone line up in all of MLB and the pitching staff has allowed 5.3 runs per game even with seven games vs. the White Sox, Royals, and Tigers so far. The Giants have a 6.30 bullpen ERA with a 1.46 FIP as this will not be a reliable group in the late innings, as was the case last night to open this series.