At 78-55, the Tigers are firmly in contention for best record in the American League. However, Detroit only leads the Blue Jays by one game. A win tonight would go a long way, but it might not be easy. The last-place Athletics have looked dangerous in recent weeks. Which team will come out on top in Sacramento? Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Tuesday’s showdown between the Tigers and Athletics.
The Tigers are favorites (-127) over the Athletics, with the over/under set at 11 runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook entering tonight’s contest.
Tigers vs. Athletics prediction, preview
Everyone loves a good comeback story. That’s why Charlie Morton’s recent success has been such a pleasure to watch for casual fans. The two-time All-Star got off to a brutal start this season as a member of the Orioles. By the start of June, it appeared that the 41-year-old’s lengthy career was rapidly coming to an end. However, something miraculous happened after that: Morton got his groove back. Over his last 14 starts, the veteran has notched a 3.87 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 85 strikeouts. Since getting traded to the Tigers last month, he’s continued that success (3.63 ERA).
Tonight will present quite a challenge for Morton. The Athletics come into tonight on a hot streak, winning seven of their last ten contests. In addition, tonight’s game will be held at Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park. Per Savant, the minor league field is baseball’s second-most hitter-friendly venue. Still, the A’s are only averaging the league’s 12th-most runs per game at home (4.58). That’s not a bad mark by any means, but certainly not insurmountable.
The team that’s been hurt the most by Sacramento are the Athletics. Opponents are putting up the third-most runs per game in baseball against this pitching staff. Toeing the slab on Tuesday will be Osvaldo Bido, making his tenth start of the season. It’s been a tough 2025 campaign for the third-year pro (5.37 ERA, 1.58 WHIP). Surprisingly, he’s been even worse on the road (5.46 ERA) than at home (5.29 ERA). That could lead to trouble against an above-average Tigers offense.
Tigers vs. Athletics pick, best bet
Best Bet: Tigers -1.5 (+118)
It’s not the most exciting pick in the world, but this game has the Tigers written all over it. The Athletics have been playing well, but the same can’t be said for Bido. In comparison, Morton has shown enough for me to believe he won’t get shelled tonight. A comfortable Detroit win feels likelier than not on Tuesday.
