MLB Odds: Damon, Tigers travel to Toronto

Detroit OF Johnny Damon nixed a trade back to the Boston Red Sox.

The Detroit Tigers begin a four-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night and outfielder Johnny Damon will be on the team plane.

Damon was recently placed on waivers and picked up by Boston. He was one of the ‘Idiots’ from the 2004 World Series team that broke the Curse of the Bambino. However, Damon invoked his no-trade clause as he’s still likely mad at Red Sox management, plus the fans that booed him after signing with the Yankees.

Damon certainly can’t be staying with Detroit (63-63) for a playoff run. It sits nine games back in the AL Central and 15 in the wild card.

The Tigers have won five straight games over bottom dwellers Cleveland and Kansas City. They scored eight runs per game and allowed just 1.4. Those were at home where Detroit is 43-24 on the year (plus 13.4 units). The Wednesday game with Kansas City is still pending.

The road has been a disaster for the Tigers at 20-39 (minus 18.2 units). They’ve lost 11 of their last 12 road series.

The Blue Jays (65-60) have been fighting hard in the second half at 21-15, but there’s too much ground to make up in the AL East with the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox all ahead of them. Toronto is 4-0 in its last four opening games of a series.

Ricky Romero will be the Toronto starter. He’s 10-7 with a 3.50 ERA. He allowed four earned runs over seven innings at Boston last Saturday. He was reportedly dealing with strep throat, but should be fine now.

The 25-year-old lefty is a key part of the team’s future and was recently locked up with a five-year contract extension. Romero has a much lower ERA at home (2.63) than away (4.17). He has eight quality home starts in 10 tries, but just one in his last three there.

This is Romero’s second start against the Tigers this year. He allowed three earned runs in seven innings on July 22 (losing 5-2). He’s 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA lifetime against them in three starts. Detroit is 1-5 in its last six games against a left-handed starter.

Max Scherzer (9-9, 3.73 ERA) is expected to get the call for Detroit. He had some troubles early in the season (7.29 ERA) and was even sent to the minors for a short stint in May.

The 26-year-old righty has been very good since coming back up (8-5, 2.28 ERA). He’s been downright dominant in his last five outings with a 1.35 ERA. Detroit is 2-3 in those starts, wining the last two. Scherzer is making his first career start against Toronto.

These teams split a four-game series in Motown last month. This is the first series in Toronto this year, with Detroit 2-5 in the last seven games there. The MLB odds ‘under’ is 6-1 in the last seven meetings north of the border.

Injuries have really hurt Detroit this year. Outfielder Magglio Ordoñez (ankle) is out for the season and Carlos Guillen (knee) is out until at least mid-September. Toronto doesn’t have any position players listed on the DL..