Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Odds, Prediction
The AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers, who are legit pennant contenders for the first time in years, make their only visit to Rogers Centre this season starting Friday night to open a three-game set. The Blue Jays are +100 underdogs on the MLB odds with a total of 8.5 runs.
Betting Analysis
From 2015-23, the Detroit Tigers were one of the AL’s worst franchises with just a single winning season and no playoff berths. But all those years of having high first-round draft picks paid off last season as the team earned a Wild-Card spot, upset the Astros in Houston in that series and pushed Cleveland to five in the ALDS before falling.
Could the 2025 Motor City Kitties win their first World Series since that historically dominant 1984 team? We think the AL pennant might be doable with a really strong pitching staff led by lefty and 2024 AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. But we don’t see Detroit beating, say, the loaded Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. Maybe if the Tigers can add one more bat and quality reliever by this summer’s trade deadline. They are -155 favourites to win the AL Central and +390 for the pennant.
Frankly, most everything is looking good professional sports-wise in Detroit right now. The Red Wings barely missed the Stanley Cup playoffs but are definitely on the way back up. The Lions are among the Super Bowl favourites and the rising Pistons were an NBA playoff team. This is the Tigers’ lone trip to Toronto this season, and the Blue Jays head to the Motor City from July 24-27.
Detroit took the 2024 series 5-2 and 2-1 in Toronto.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers own the American League’s best record, swept three games at home from Boston to start this week and will have a fully available bullpen having been off Thursday. Detroit’s Will Vest has been one of the best relievers in the AL at 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and four saves. The hottest Tigers hitter right now is likely shortstop Trey Sweeney, who has an OPS of 1.004 this month with three homers and 13 RBIs. Former starting shortstop Javy Baez now plays the outfield, and it has suited him as Baez is having a massive bounce-back season at .309 with five homers and 27 RBIs.
Righty Jack Flaherty (1-5, 4.61) has been one of the team’s disappointments so far and starts Friday. He began last season with Detroit but was traded to the Dodgers around the deadline … only to re-sign in free agency back with the Tigers in the offseason. Flaherty has allowed four or more earned runs in each of his past three outings and has not won since April 4. In four career starts vs. the Jays, Flaherty is 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA. George Springer might get Friday off as he’s 0-for-14 career against Flaherty. Bo Bichette is 3-for-7. Detroit is 12-10 on the road.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays had a chance to win their three-game home series with Tampa Bay on Thursday, but Kevin Gausman was not sharp in the 8-3 loss. Toronto played with the Rogers Centre roof open for the first time this season. Bo Bichette seemed to like it, going 3-for-4. It was Bichette’s fourth multi-hit effort over his last six games, in which he’s batting .391.
Right-hander Bowden Francis (2-5, 5.40) starts on the mound for Toronto tonight. The 27-year-old had that historically good stretch to end last season but has not found near the same consistency so far in 2025. Francis does come off his third quality start of the year, allowing three runs over six in a no-decision in Seattle. He has struggled at home with a 6.52 ERA in four starts, although both wins have been at Rogers Centre. Francis has thrown 1.1 career innings in one relief appearance vs. Detroit and didn’t allow a run, hit or walk (or get a decision) with two strikeouts. The over is 10-1 in Toronto’s past 11 games.
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