The Oakland Athletics are set to host the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. With that said, it’s a good time to check out our MLB odds series, which includes our Tigers-Athletics prediction and pick we have laid out below. 

 

Both teams have had their share of struggles this season as they gear up for their first game after the All-Star break. Detroit is 37-55 and one game out of last place in the AL Central after losing eight of its last 10 games. Oakland, meanwhile, has lost six of its last 10 and currently sits dead last in the AL West at 32-61.

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Tigers-Athletics MLB odds:

MLB Odds: Tigers-Athletics Odds

Detroit Tigers: -1.5 (+126) ML: (-148)

Oakland Athletics: +1.5 (-152) ML: (+126)

Over: 7.5 (+102)

Under: 7.5 (-124)

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Why The Tigers Could Cover The Spread

While the two teams have fairly similar numbers over the course of the season, Detroit is batting .235 in the month of July — 28 points higher than the Athletics. The Tigers have out-scored their upcoming opponent 66-56 during this span, while also posting higher slugging and OPS figures.

They had their share of struggles when they faced Logue earlier this year, but outside of that, they've been extremely successful against left-handed pitching. Detroit's .269 average against lefties is the third-best in baseball and second-highest in the American League.

Another factor working in the Tigers' favor is their bullpen, which has been a strength throughout a rocky 2022 campaign. Detroit relievers have posted a 3.08 ERA this season, which trails only the Astros and New York Yankees. With Detroit having yet to name a starter at the time odds were released, this seems to be a significant point of separation. The Oakland bullpen has allowed 151 walks with a 4.18 ERA, both of which rank second-to-last in the American League.

It's been a rocky first year in Detroit for veteran infielder Javier Baez, who is batting .211 on the season. Much like Laureano for Oakland, though, he's been able to make an impact lately in spite of boasting a subpar average. Baez leads the team with .776 OPS over the last 30 days. He's also blasted five home runs with 17 RBIs during this span while batting .242 — 29 points above his season average.

Why The Athletics Could Cover The Spread

Oakland starting pitcher Zach Logue got off to a strong start to his MLB career, allowing just two earned runs in 13 1/3 innings. He hit a rough patch over his next three appearances, giving up 13 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings while taking three straight losses, but he was able to rebound his last time out. Logue gave up just three hits and two earned runs across five frames, as the Athletics stunned the AL West-leading Houston Astros 3-2 on July 9.

Also of importance is Logue's track record against the Tigers. In just his second career start, he delivered seven scoreless innings while striking out six in a 9-0 victory.

Detroit ranks near the bottom of the league in a handful of hitting and pitching statistics, but that hasn't stopped it from dominating Oakland this season, winning four of their five meetings with a plus-10 run differential in these games.

Ramon Laureano has had a rough stretch in July, batting .211 with an on-base percentage below, but he's still shown potential with his slugging ability. He's blasted five home runs in 15 games this month with a .491 slugging percentage, both season-highs. Sean Murphy is also a threat at the plate, with a .781 OPS over the last 30 days.

The Tigers have given up the third-least home runs in the American League, but as evidenced by Oakland's 9-0 win over them on May 11, the Athletics are more than capable of beating Detroit without the long ball.

Final Tigers-Athletics Prediction & Pick

With an up-and-down rookie pitcher on one side and an unnamed starter on the other, picking an over-under can be a risky proposition. And given the Athletics' sustained offensive futility, -152 just doesn't provide the payoff to justify taking them at +1.5.

Detroit on the money line seems to be the play here. The Tigers have struggled on the road, posting a 14-31 record away from Comerica Park. However, the Athletics have been even worse at home going 11-31 in front of the sparse crowds in Oakland. Given this lack of a home-field advantage, combined with the Tigers' sound bullpen pitching and success against left-handing hitting, -148 appears to be a solid number to bet the favorite at.

Final Tigers-Athletics Prediction & Pick: Tigers ML (-148)