It's time for some inter-league baseball from the Chavez Ravine! The Detroit Tigers will travel to Dodger Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Join us for our MLB odds series, where our Tigers-Dodgers prediction and pick will be unveiled.

The Tigers enter the City of Stars fresh off a five-game losing streak and would love nothing more to shock the Dodgers this weekend. Southpaw Tyler Alexander will be tasked with the tough challenge in keeping LA's dangerous but slumping lineup off the scoreboard. Alexander is eager to turn around his season, as he is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in three starts. Detroit is 6-12 through their first 18 games.

As for the Dodgers, Los Angeles is sputtering coming into this one, as they surprisingly lost back-to-back games to Arizona this week. Prior to the slip up in the desert, the Dodgers had won 11 of 13 games. Fellow lefty Tyler Anderson will square off with the Tigers, as the other Tyler is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA. Los Angeles is 12-6 through 18 games.

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Tigers-Dodgers odds:

MLB odds: Tigers-Dodgers Odds

Detroit Tigers: +1.5 (-102)

Los Angeles Dodgers: -1.5 (-118)

Over: 8 (-120)

Under: 8 (-102)

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Why the Tigers Could Cover the Spread

Detroit could be in for a long weekend against the Dodgers, but the Tigers could cover the spread in copying the similar formula that the D-Backs used when they downed Los Angeles twice in three tries. While Arizona might've been fortunate that Dodgers' hitters have been struggling at the plate, the fact that they were able to hold LA to only eight runs in three games is a minor miracle.

Even more encouraging for the Tigers is that they possess a much better overall pitching staff than the Diamondbacks. They should be able to present some greater challenges to the Los Angeles lineup. Detroit currently has the 12th best team ERA at 3.41 and have had four quality starts from their starters up to this point.

LHP Tyler Alexander will need to have his best stuff going on Friday. He has yet to find a groove to begin 2022. In his last start on Sunday against Colorado, Alexander struggled to get out of the third inning, and eventually only lasted 3 2/3, charged with five runs on eight hits in the loss. The level of difficulty will be much greater for Alexander at Dodger Stadium, as he'll be battling against Los Angeles for the first time in his career.

Scoring only 58 runs in 18 games, the Tigers cannot have a repeat of their 7-1 defeat on Thursday. Detroit stranded 12 men on base. Coming up clutch at the dish may be the deciding factor in whether or not the Tigers can have a chance in covering the spread in Los Angeles.

Why the Dodgers Could Cover the Spread

After dropping a pair to their division foe Arizona Diamondbacks, there is slight concern around the Dodgers clubhouse about the deterioration of the bats more than a couple weeks into the season.

Shockingly, some of the Dodgers most feared hitters such as Justin Turner, Max Muncy, and even Mookie Betts have been vastly inefficient. The trio are all slashing under .210. If it wasn't for newcomer Freddie Freeman and his .310 batting average, Los Angeles would be in a world of hurt. However, the hitting struggles will almost seemingly be figured out at some point, and what better time to breakout than against a laboring pitcher and a fairly mediocre Tigers roster. Despite the Dodgers inability to hit the baseball as of late, they are still seventh in the league in runs scored with 90 and are still finding ways to get on base with a .331 percentage.

If there is one thing that has remained consistent, it's that the Dodgers still endure one of the best pitching staffs and bullpens in baseball. With league-leading numbers in team ERA at 2.21, a WHIP at 0.90, and a lowly .178 batting average against, the Tigers may find it challenging in generating even a snippet of offense.

If Anderson can toss at least five innings and turn it over to the bullpen in good standing, then expect new closer Craig Kimbrel to come in and shut the door on the Tigers.

Final Tigers-Dodgers Prediction & Pick

On paper, the Dodgers shouldn't have any issues in this one right? This is correct. After losing five straight, Detroit will have an uphill climb in covering the spread in this one. They are outmanned in almost every position out on the diamond. Additionally, the Dodgers are coming into this contest ticked off. They surely want to put up a crooked number against the southpaw in Tyler Alexander. Side with Los Angeles in this one and you won't be disappointed.

Final Tigers-Dodgers Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (-118)