The MLB betting action goes on Friday, April 29, 2022, with a full 15-game card, bringing plenty of intriguing markets to the bettors, so we’re taking a closer look at the interleague showdown from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles to get you the best Tigers vs. Dodgers betting pick and odds. 

Detroit and LA open a three-game series, and the Dodgers are heavy -230 moneyline favorites for Game 1. The visitors sit at +208 to win straight up, while the totals are listed at 8.5 runs on BetOnline Sportsbook. The Cats meet the Blue Crew for the first time since 2017.   

The Tigers ride a five-game losing streak                             

The Detroit Tigers (6-12) are coming off a 7-1 loss at Minnesota on Thursday afternoon. It was their fifth defeat in a row and eighth in their last ten games overall. The Tigers scored only one run on 11 hits while making four errors, showing why they own the worst record in the AL Central. 

Detroit has scored only seven runs over its past five contests. The Twins outscored the Tigers 17-5 through a three-game set in Minneapolis. Now, the Tigers are slashing .223/.306/.317, all below the league average. 

Tyler Alexander will take the mound Friday in LA, and the 27-year-old lefty has struggled a lot in each of his three starts in 2022. Alexander owns a 0-2 record, 7.20 ERA, and 1.70 WHIP. He yielded five earned runs on eight hits across 3.2 frames in a 6-2 defeat to the Colorado Rockies last Sunday. Tyler has never met the Dodgers before. 

The Dodgers lost two in a row       

The Los Angeles Dodgers (12-6) are coming off a disappointing loss in a three-game road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After winning the opener 4-0, the Boys in Blue have suffered a couple of losses at Chase Field, 5-3 and 3-1. 

The Dodgers remain second in the NL West. They score 5.00 runs per game (tied-2nd in the MLB) on a .244 batting average (9th), .331 on-base percentage (tied-4th), and .394 slugging percentage (10th). Los Angeles boasts the lowest ERA in the majors (2.21), while the Dodgers’ bullpen carries a shiny 2.28 ERA and 2.60 WHIP. 

Tyler Anderson will get the starting call Friday, his second of the season. The 32-year-old left-hander is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in three appearances and 12.2 innings of work in 2022. Last Saturday, Anderson pitched 4.2 frames of a two-run, four-hit ball in a 3-2 defeat at San Diego. 

Trends:

Detroit: 

  • 0-5 in the last five games overall 
  • 1-4 in the last five games on the road  

LA Dodgers:

  • 25-3 in the last 28 games at home
  • 5-1 in the last six games against the American League  

Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Pick 

While the slumping Tigers had to take a long trip from Minneapolis on Thursday night, the Dodgers enjoyed a day off. On paper, Los Angeles is a much better team than Detroit, so I’m backing the Dodgers to beat the Tigers by two or more runs. The moneyline odds on the hosts are not tempting, and all LA’s wins in 2022 have come by two or more runs. 

Tyler Anderson met Detroit last year as a Pirate and took a win. The current Tigers are slashing just .123/.130/.152 in 29 at-bats against him. The Dodgers’ bullpen was charged for a loss in two losses against the Diamondbacks, and I’m expecting a bounce-back performance in this game. 

Pick: Take Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 at -115                    

The Total:

Seven of the Dodgers’ last eight tilts have seen eight or fewer runs on the scoreboard. I’ve mentioned how good their pitching staff has been so far, so the Dodgers could easily shut down the Tigers. 

On the other side, the Tigers hope their bullpen (2.25 ERA and 3.15 FIP) will continue to impress. Over the last seven days, Detroit’s relievers have registered a sparkly 0.83 ERA and 2.57 FIP, allowing zero home runs in the process. 

Pick: Go under 8.5 runs at -110