The Detroit Tigers (19-12) and the Los Angeles Angels (12-17) open a 4-game series Thursday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. First pitch is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Tigers vs. Angels odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Angels won 4-3 in 2024
The Tigers were treated rudely in Houston, losing 2 of 3 games. Detroit salvaged the series finale, winning 7-4 Wednesday as slight underdogs (+105) with the Over (8) cashing. The Tigers fired out of the box with 7 runs in the first 3 innings, leading 7-1 through the middle of the fifth inning. The Astros scored the final 3 runs — 2 in the fifth and 1 in the seventh — but the Detroit bullpen held on.
Tigers LF Riley Greene was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, all singles, while scoring 2 runs. OF Javier Baez had the big blow, swatting a grand slam in the top of the third inning, while C Tomas Nido also had a multi-hit game with a pair of singles in 4 at-bats.
The Angels suffered a 2-game sweep at the hand of the host Seattle Mariners Tuesday (5-3) and Wednesday (9-3). The Halos have dropped 5 in a row, and 7 of the past 8 games, with the Under going 4-3 in the previous 7 outings.
In Wednesday’s loss, DH Jorge Soler was a bright spot with a solo shot, his fifth homer of the season. C Logan O’Hoppe had the only multi-hit game for the Angels, collecting a pair of singles with an RBI in 4 at-bats.
Tigers at Angels projected starters
RHP Casey Mize vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi
Mize (4-1, 2.12 ERA) makes his sixth start. He has a 1.04 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 7.0 K/9 in 29 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 5 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 8 H (1 solo HR), 0 BB, 5 K in 4-3 home victory vs. Baltimore Orioles Saturday
- 2025 road splits: 1-1, 3.18 ERA (11 1/3 IP, 4 ER), 0.97 WHIP, 8 H, 2 HR, 3 BB, 9 K in 2 starts
- 2024 vs. Angels: 1 start, win, 5 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K in 7-6 road victory June 30
- Career vs. Angels: 1-0, 3.14 ERA (14 1/3 IP, 5 ER), 15 H, 2 HR, 7 BB, 10 K in 3 starts
Kikuchi (0-4, 4.31 ERA) makes his seventh start. He has a 1.60 WHIP, 5.2 BB/9, 8.0 K/9 in 31 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 2 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 4 BB, 0 K in 5-1 loss at Minnesota Twins Saturday
- 2025 home splits: 1 start, no-decision, 5 1/3 IP, 0 ER (1 R), 5 H, 4 BB, 6 K in 5-4 win vs. San Francisco Giants April 20
- 2024 vs. Tigers: 0-1, 10.13 ERA (8 IP, 9 ER), 13 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 8 K in 2 starts for Blue Jays
- Career vs. Tigers: 1-2, 6.21 ERA (29 IP, 20 ER), 1.45 WHIP, 8.7 K/9 in 6 starts
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Tigers at Angels odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:51 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Tigers -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Angels +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Tigers -1.5 (+135) | Angels +1.5 (-160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Tigers at Angels picks and predictions
Prediction
Tigers 6, Angels 2
The TIGERS (-130) should be a slam-dunk play in this series opener.
Mize has been one of the best pitchers in the American League in the first month and change, combining with LHP Tarik Skubal to give Detroit outstanding starting pitching early on.
On the flip side, Kikuchi has been a disaster for the Halos, although he was surprisingly effective in his only previous home start. We’re backing Mize and the TIGERS (-130) based on overall sample size.
If you’re a little more adventurous, forget the moneyline, and back TIGERS -1.5 (+135). Detroit is 4-1 in Mize’s previous 5 outings, and 3 of the victories have been by 2 or more runs.
Conversely, the Angels are 1-5 in Kikuchi’s 6 outings this season, losing 4 of them by 4 or more runs.
UNDER 8.5 (-110) is a little risky, so go with a half-unit play at most.
The risk isn’t on Mize. He has thrown up plenty of donuts this season. However, the risk is Kikuchi as he has surrendered 3 or more earned runs in 4 of his 6 outings.
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