logo
2025 MLB odds: Bettors backing Detroit Tigers to win AL Pennant

2025 MLB odds: Bettors backing Detroit Tigers to win AL Pennant

Fox Sports13-06-2025
With their 44-25 record, the Detroit Tigers are currently one of the best teams in Major League Baseball, sitting atop the standings in the AL Central.
And with all the success Detroit has had so far this season, bettors have taken note.
At BetMGM, the Tigers' odds to win the World Series opened at +4000. So a $10 bet on Opening Day would have pocketed $410 total if the Tigers end up winning the Fall Classic.
They're now all the way down to +800, where a $10 bet would only win $90 total.
But there's more.
In World Series futures at BetMGM, the Tigers have the third-highest ticket at 8.2%, behind the Dodgers (14.1%) and the Phillies (9.3%).
In the AL Central, they're the heavy favorites at -600, but also have the highest ticket (32.7%) and the highest handle (39.5%).
When it comes to the team with the shortest odds to win the AL pennant, that's the Yankees at +200. But it's the Tigers with the highest ticket (24%), the highest handle (23.6%) and the team that is BetMGM's biggest liability.
Let's take a closer look at Detroit's odds at BetMGM as of June 12.
Tigers to have most regular-season wins: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
World Series: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
To win AL: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
To win AL Central: -550 (bet $10 to win $11.82 total)
AL Cy Young winner
Tarik Skubal: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total)
AL MVP winner
Tarik Skubal: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
So are the Tigers really worth backing, after barely sneaking into the 2024 postseason with an 86-76 record?
FOX Sports MLB writer Rowan Kavner is "starting to believe," and that's largely because of Spencer Torkelson.
"[He] looks primed for a career year for a team that desperately needed more infield pop from somewhere," Kavner wrote. "I don't think this is a top-five team, but I do think this is a top-10 team and the best club in the AL Central."
FOX Sports' Deesha Thosar echoed a similar sentiment.
"The Tigers look like the real deal, especially because they're the only team in the AL Central with a positive run differential," she noted. "Detroit's only legitimate threat to win the division is Cleveland, and even then, the way the Tigers are playing right now, I'm expecting them to enjoy another trip to the postseason.
"The Tigers have a top-10 offense in baseball in terms of wRC+, and if they can sustain that level of dominance on both sides of the ball, then they might just have a deeper playoff run in their bones."
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MLB Insider Reveals Blue Jays' 'Aggressive' Trade Deadline Plan
MLB Insider Reveals Blue Jays' 'Aggressive' Trade Deadline Plan

Newsweek

timean hour ago

  • Newsweek

MLB Insider Reveals Blue Jays' 'Aggressive' Trade Deadline Plan

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Toronto Blue Jays have firmly placed themselves at the top of the league due to a tremendous first half of the season. But if the Blue Jays want to stay ay the top of the league, they're going to need to make some moves this month. The Blue Jays have the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Yankees chasing them in the American League East. It's going to be crucial that Toronto finds some upgrades on the trade market to keep itself at the top of this loaded division. USA Today's Bob Nightengale recently revealed the Blue Jays are seemingly planning on being as aggressive as any team ahead of the trade deadline. This could include a potential trade for a top-end starting pitcher. TORONTO, ON - MAY 11: A detail view of a Toronto Blue Jays hat against the Minnesota Twins on May 11, 2024 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. TORONTO, ON - MAY 11: A detail view of a Toronto Blue Jays hat against the Minnesota Twins on May 11, 2024 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Brace Hemmelgarn/"GMs believe that the Toronto Blue Jays could be as aggressive as any team in baseball at the deadline, believing this could be their best chance to return to the World Series since 1993," Nightengale wrote. "The Blue Jays are looking for a front-line pitcher, and have shown interest in (Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac) Gallen." The Blue Jays came into the season with a bit of a question mark on their pitching staff. A few months into the season, this question mark has turned to a massive hole. Toronto could turn to any of the pitchers on the market to fill this void. A deal for Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen could make sense. Toronto could also pursue Gallen's teammate Merrill Kelly. At the end of the day, Toronto needs pitching, but above all else, it needs to be aggressive. More MLB: Phillies 'Hoping To Acquire' Star Relief Pitcher From Struggling AL Club

In an era prizing velocity, more than 20,000 curveballs a year have disappeared from MLB
In an era prizing velocity, more than 20,000 curveballs a year have disappeared from MLB

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

In an era prizing velocity, more than 20,000 curveballs a year have disappeared from MLB

Tampa Bay Rays' Shane Baz pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 7, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) delivers during the second inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) delivers during the second inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Tampa Bay Rays' Shane Baz pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 7, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash) Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) delivers during the second inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) ATLANTA (AP) — Curveballs have been thrown a curve by a modern game valuing velocity over variety, disappearing from the major leagues by more than 20,000 annually. The Athletics have thrown curves on just 2.5% of pitches this season. The overall big league figure dropped from 10.7% in 2019 to 8.1% last year, the lowest since MLB starting tracking in 2008, before rising slightly to 8.5% this season. Advertisement There were 22,962 fewer curveballs in 2024 than five years earlier. 'You don't really see a lot of people throwing 12-6 curveballs anymore,' Tampa Bay pitcher Shane Baz said. 'They'd rather have a hard cutter/slider. It's a lot easier for guys to throw a sweeper than it is a 12-6 curveball.' Baz's 28.1% is seventh in curveball use among those who have thrown at least 1,000 pitches this season. Baltimore's Charlie Morton, first at 39%, learned to throw a hook from his dad. 'He was reading some article or maybe he was reading some pitching book,' Baltimore's 41-year-old right-hander said. 'You basically throw it like you're re-throwing a knife.' Advertisement Curveballs have been around for a century and a half Hall of Famer Candy Cummings, a 145-game winner, is credited with inventing the curveball in 1863 when he was 14, discovering the movement when he threw sea shells into the Atlantic Ocean. Some attribute the curve to amateur pitcher Fred Goldsmith in 1870. With an average velocity of 80.2 mph, curves are the slowest and loopiest of breaking pitches, often disrupting the timing of batters set for smoke. The phrase 'thrown a curveball' has become part of the English language, much like 'screwball," more a phrase than a pitch these days. Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan and Clayton Kershaw were among the consummate curveballers, bamboozling batters as balls they gave up on dropped like hang gliders into the strike zone. Advertisement 'It's become an industry of throwing over pitching,' New York Yankees senior adviser Omar Minaya said. 'When you pitch, you use different pitches. What we're seeing in the industry as a whole, especially with showcases, is people are looking more at velocity than pitchability — as a scout, I said that unfortunately.' Former pitcher Dallas Braden, now a broadcaster, longs for those days of deception. 'You almost sympathize with the hitter in the moment because you're like: Damn, I couldn't have hit that. He couldn't hit that. Nobody could have hit that,' Braden said. 'The eephus is now almost like as close as we get, when a position player is on the mound, to an aesthetically pleasing pitch like that, just the visual presentation of the pitch starting in the clouds and ending up at the ankles.' Nike's 'Chicks Dig the Long Ball' commercial defined baseball in the Steroids Era. These days the slogan might as well be: 'Velo Rules!' There were just 214 pitches of 100 mph or more in 2008. There were a record 3,880 two years ago and this year is on track for 3,252. Advertisement In tandem, starting pitcher use has dropped. Starters have averaged just under 5 1/3 innings this season, down from 6 1/3 innings in the 1980s. Their pitch count averages 85.7, down from 97 in 2010 Throw as hard as you can for as long as you can is the mantra Average four-seam fastball velocity is a record 94.4 mph this season, up from 91.9 mph when MLB started tracking in 2008. But fastballs — four-seam, two-seam and cutters, have dropped from 62.1% to 55%. Those missing hooks and heaters have been replaced by sliders, sweepers and slurves. They are 22.6% of pitches this year, up from 13.9% in 2008, and their average velocity has risen to 84.8 mph from 83.4 mph. Advertisement Colorado throws curves the most often at 15.6%, not that it has brought any success to a team that entered the break at 22-74, on track for a 37-125 finish and the post-1900 record for losses. The Athletics haven't thrown 10% curveballs since 2017. 'If you look around the game, swing and miss has taken more of a priority, so guys are trying to throw more sweepers with more horizontal movement, or they're trying to throw the slider really hard at the bottom of the zone,' Athletics pitching coach Scott Emerson said. 'They're worried about contact with the curveball.' Generational change in the 2020s Advertisement Veteran pitchers note the curve's decline as youngsters integrate into staffs. 'As you're an amateur going to the big leagues guys are looking at velo. Guys are just looking at stuff,' Yankees ace Gerrit Cole said. 'Velo is important and it pays.' Maybe because the pitchers who throw curves are committed, batters have a .225 average this season on curves, down from .263 on fastballs and up slightly from .222 on sliders, sweepers and slurves. 'That's just how the game is trending: to throw it as hard as you can, spin it the best you can and hope the hitter doesn't hit it,' Emerson said. 'The hitters are up there trying to swing as hard they can. If they hit it with hard contact, make 27 swings that are really hard, you got a chance to hit a homer here and there. And it's taken away from the contact-type pitchers.' ___ AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report. ___ AP MLB:

Six MLB Players Earn Bonuses For Being Named To The All-Star Team
Six MLB Players Earn Bonuses For Being Named To The All-Star Team

Forbes

timean hour ago

  • Forbes

Six MLB Players Earn Bonuses For Being Named To The All-Star Team

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez hits a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth ... More inning during a baseball game, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) It's officially the MLB All-Star Week, with festivities already underway in Atlanta and the Home Run Derby tonight. There are 81 players who have been named All-Stars this season, including all the players participating in the game or replaced due to injury or unavailability. Six of those 81 All-Stars will receive contract bonuses for making the roster, adding up to $425,000 in total. Such bonuses became a source of controversy when Philadelphia Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez was passed over in favor of Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski, who has only made five starts in the Majors. Sánchez lost a contract incentive that would've paid him $50,000 for making the All-Star Game, but the Phillies will give him the bonus amount anyway. Three players triggered $100,000 bonuses, including one who isn't going to be on the field in Atlanta. Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez was voted in as the starter for the American League squad, but he opted out of the game. He's batting .297/.367/.510 with 18 home runs and 29 stolen bases this year. This is his fifth-consecutive All-Star nod and seventh overall. Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom is one of the oldest All-Stars, joining Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers as the only 37-year-olds on the rosters. He'll add a $100,000 bonus to his $40 million base salary this year for making his fifth All-Star Team. He has a 2.32 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP this year over 19 starts. Freddy Peralta, ace of the Milwaukee Brewers, will also receive a $100,000 bonus for making his second All-Star appearance. He leads the National League with 10 wins and has a 2.74 ERA over 19 starts. Two of deGrom's former teammates with the New York Mets picked up $50,000 bonuses. Francisco Lindor was elected as the starting shortstop for the National League. This is his fifth All-Star appearance, but surprisingly his first since 2019. He was not chosen for the All-Star Team last season, even though he finished as the runner-up in the MVP race. Lindor will be joined by Mets closer Edwin Díaz, who has a 1.66 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 38 innings. He's in the third season of a five-year, $102 million deal—the first nine-figure contract ever signed by a relief pitcher—and he will gain another $50,000 for his third All-Star selection. The player with the smallest All-Star bonus of the six who have them in their contracts is Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez, but it could lead to a significantly more lucrative payout. He will receive $25,000 being chosen as an All-Star reserve, but he has a unique player option in his contract that's partially based on All-Star appearances. Rodríguez signed a 12-year, $209.3 million contract that runs from 2023-2034, including a player option for 2030-2034 that's worth $18 million per year. However, the value of those option years increases to $20 million per year if he accrues eight combined All-Star selections and Silver Slugger Awards from 2022-2029, and $22 million per year if he achieves 10 of them. This is his third All-Star Team inclusion so far, and he has already won two Silver Sluggers.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store