Expert Picks & Props for Dodgers vs Tigers as Skubal Faces Old Team

• The LA Dodgers are -215 road favorites as they open a 3-game set against the Detroit Tigers
• Tarik Skubal will face his former team for the first time since being dealt at the trade deadline
• Read below for the my Dodgers vs Tigers picks, props and updated odds

It’s a homecoming of sorts Friday in Motown, as the Los Angeles Dodgers (80-54) travel to Comerica Park to open a new series against the Detroit Tigers (62-71).

That’s because reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will be starting against his former team for the first time since being dealt to LA at the trade deadline.

The Dodgers enter this one as the heavy road favorites in the MLB odds.

Action gets underway at 6:40pm ET from Comerica Park in Detroit, with MLB TV providing the broadcast coverage.

Let’s break down this matchup as I share my top picks and betting prediction.

Dodgers vs Tigers Expert Picks

Best Bet: Dodgers Moneyline (67¢ at Kalshi): While the standard price is steep, the offensive mismatch is too significant to ignore. Los Angeles is 75-49 as a favorite this season.

The Tigers hold a poor 21-33 record as underdogs. For the best price, bettors can look to the Kalshi prediction market, where “Los Angeles D Yes” trades at 67¢. This roughly equates to -203 odds, offering slightly better value than the -210 found at traditional sportsbooks like Caesars.

And then we get to the MLB probable pitchers.

Since joining Los Angeles, Tarik Skubal has delivered elite bat-missing stuff over his 24.0-inning current-team sample. The left-hander boasts an 11.25 K/9 rate and a brilliant 2.67 FIP, heavily limiting opposing production. Skubal has maintained exceptional control recently, averaging 2.62 BB/9 over his last 10 games.

Drew Anderson draws the starting assignment for Detroit. Anderson sports a 2.880 season-to-date ERA, though his 4.18 FIP suggests he has benefited from favorable batted-ball luck. His recent form is concerning; over his last 10 appearances (25.1 innings), his ERA has inflated to 3.908 while his walk rate climbed to 3.55 BB/9.

My analysis points toward a clear advantage for the road team. When traveling, Los Angeles fields an absolute juggernaut of a lineup. The Dodgers lead all of Major League Baseball in road scoring with 5.51 runs per game, accompanied by a .269 batting average.

Conversely, Detroit ranks in the bottom third of the league in home batting average (.239) and pushes across just 4.36 runs per game at Comerica Park. Facing Skubal doesn’t help.

LA Dodgers vs DET Tigers Props

Best Total Bet: Under 7.5 Runs (54¢ at Kalshi): Despite the Dodgers’ offensive efficiency, both pitching staffs are elite at run prevention. Detroit boasts a 3.60 team ERA, while Los Angeles sits right behind them at 3.67. The Under has cashed in 70.0% of the Tigers’ last 10 games. Kalshi offers “Over 7.5 runs scored No” at 54¢, presenting a better payout structure than the standard -120 odds for the Under at Caesars.

Best Player Prop: Skubal Under 8 Strikeouts (58¢ at Kalshi): Skubal has exceeded 6.5 strikeouts in 67.0% of his last 12 games, but his road splits tell a different story. As a road pitcher, he has surpassed his baseline strikeout total in just 40.0% of his last five away appearances. Kalshi offers the “No” on 8+ strikeouts at 58¢, which serves as a stronger price than paying -145 vigorish for Under 7.5 at traditional sportsbooks.

Dodgers vs Tigers Odds

The graphic above shows the best available odds, which are subject to change. Be sure to use the BetMGM promo code to bet on Dodgers vs Tigers or any other MLB game.

The moneyline has shifted since opening, with Los Angeles moving from -203 to -215 at FanDuel. This line movement corresponds with heavy public backing, as 92.6% of the moneyline handle and 90.8% of tickets are supporting the road favorite.

Detroit is getting 1.5 runs on the spread, and are still getting +102 odds on a payout from DraftKings, while LA winning by at least two runs is taxed at -120 odds.

Both the runline and total have remained static since opening. The lack of movement on the 7.5-run total is notable because 82.2% of the tickets and 77.2% of the total money are backing the Over, which is getting +100 odds from bet365.