Tigers host the Cubs to begin 3-game series

Chicago Cubs (39-23, first in the NL Central) vs. Detroit Tigers (41-23, first in the AL Central)

Detroit; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Ben Brown (3-3, 5.72 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 71 strikeouts); Tigers: Tarik Skubal (5-2, 2.26 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 99 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -193, Cubs +160; over/under is 7 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers open a three-game series at home against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Detroit has gone 21-8 at home and 41-23 overall. Tigers hitters are batting a collective .251, which ranks fifth in the AL.

Chicago has a 39-23 record overall and a 19-12 record on the road. Cubs hitters are batting a collective .262, the second-best team batting average in MLB play.

The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.

TOP PERFORMERS: Spencer Torkelson leads the Tigers with 28 extra base hits (14 doubles and 14 home runs). Wenceel Perez is 10 for 31 with three doubles, three home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games.

Kyle Tucker has 11 doubles, four triples and 12 home runs for the Cubs. Nico Hoerner is 11 for 38 with two doubles over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 7-3, .237 batting average, 2.55 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 runs

Cubs: 8-2, .255 batting average, 2.47 ERA, outscored opponents by 18 runs

INJURIES: Tigers: Jason Foley: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alex Cobb: 60-Day IL (hip), Jackson Jobe: 15-Day IL (flexor), Matt Vierling: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Reese Olson: 15-Day IL (finger), Ty Madden: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Alex Lange: 60-Day IL (lat)

Cubs: Miguel Amaya: 10-Day IL (oblique), Porter Hodge: 15-Day IL (oblique), Eli Morgan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shota Imanaga: 15-Day IL (leg), Javier Assad: 60-Day IL (oblique), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow)

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.