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Posted at 11:45 AM EST.

1:05 PM EST. The perception in the market is that the Orioles are the superior team with the Tigers being in complete rebuild mode but man for man and including the pitching staff, especially the relievers, we’re suggesting that it is the Tigers that are superior and will be a lot more competitive than most think. That is going to provide us with opportunities like this one.

Detroit’s Shane Greene came into 2018 as one of the last "closers" off the board. His xERA of 4.07 in 2017 didn't agree with his 2.67 ERA, and his 4.5 BB/9 left reason for pessimism. So far, so good for the 29-year-old, as he hadn’t been scored upon in his last four appearances prior to yesterday but he did pick up the win and struck out two batters in the one inning he pitched. He also picked up two saves this recently. He’s been very good closing out games. Young fireballer Joe Jimenez hasn't been scored upon in 7 appearances and has struck out four over his last three games. He's currently setting up for Greene and has the goods to secure the ninth-inning role with his above-average velocity. He's good and has the highest upside in the Tigers pen. Drew VerHagen has been striking out more batters in the early going this year (7 Ks in 8 IP), which is a positive development. He does carry a career 59% GB rate, so if he can increase the Ks, there could be something there. Daniel Norris is currently pitching in long relief and is next up in the rotation should the need arise, but he also has 9 Ks in 6.1 IP Although he's allowed 5 earned runs in his two appearances, he's also generating good groundball contact. If he stays in the pen, he probably won't close, but he could vulture wins in the middle innings and is reliable.

Baltimore’s pen is worse than Detroit and so is everything else. Detroit’s offense ranks 9th in MLB while Baltimore’s ranks dead last with an OPS of .561. There is not a single area that supports Baltimore being road chalk here and that includes the pitchers. We’re not big fans of Jordan Zimmermann and were probably the first outfit to warn you about his demise when he was racking up victories for the Nationals. However, he has some pedigree, he throws strikes and he’s a much better option taking back a price at home than Alex Cobb is spotting a price on the road.

Alex Cobb was recalled from Class AA Bowie last week and made his season starting debut against the Red Sox and it appears as though the market is giving him a pass because the Red Sox are killing everyone. We’re not giving him a pass. It was not the return that Cobb and the Orioles were looking for 7 ER, 10 hits, one BB and zero K’s in 3.2 innings. Cobb logged a career-high innings in first full season post-May 2015 TJS. His velocity has returned but his ability to miss bats hasn't, as his splitter has been far less effective (2014: 18% swing and miss, 38% usage; 2017: 9% swing and miss, 14% usage). This is a pitcher that had an abbreviated spring, was in Double AA last week and that couldn’t throw strikes in his first start back (43% first-pitch strike rate). This is a starter that has two legs of a tripod and is favored on the road on perhaps the worst team in MLB? We can live with ourselves if this one misses because in terms of value, it has to be considered the provident choice.

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