The Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers meet Friday in MLB action from Comerica Park. This will be the first installment in a three-game weekend series. Here’s a Tigers vs Rangers prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Tigers vs Rangers pick.
Texas Rangers Betting Preview
The Rangers kicked off their season with a series victory over the Red Sox, then beat the Cincinnati Reds in two of three ahead of a sweep versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Following a lost series to the Chicago Cubs and the Seattle Mariners, the Rangers managed a sweep over the Los Angeles Angels. Set losses against the Oakland Athletics (two times) and San Francisco Giants ensued during the next three matchups, then defeats versus Seattle in their first two weekend games before a sweep-stopping Sunday win. The Rangers opened their series versus the Red Sox with a 6-1 win on Tuesday. In game two, Texas took a 6-4 loss despite holding a lead for much of the evening. Starter Tyler Mahle finished with 5.0 innings, four hits, and two earned runs.
In the Thursday finale, the Rangers couldn’t find any momentum at the plate on five team hits, falling in a 5-0 shutout in the end. Starter Jack Leiter lasted 5.1 innings with four earned runs on three hits and four walks, while Joc Pederson managed three walks in an ultimately futile effort.
As a starter for Friday’s game, the Rangers are sending out Patrick Corbin. So far this year, Corbin is 2-1 with a 3.28 ERA in five starts over 24.2 innings. Corbin is 105-132 in his career with a 4.50 ERA in 357 games (329 starts).
Detroit Tigers Betting Preview
Over on the Detroit side, they lost an opening set this year versus the Dodgers in a sweep, then beat the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, and Minnesota Twins in the next four series. After a set loss to the Brewers, Detroit got back to it with series wins over the Royals, Padres, and Orioles. Detroit would drop another set against the Houston Astros, then beat the Angels in three of four. On Wednesday versus Colorado, Detroit was down 3-0 early but rallied to make it competitive and eventually won in 10 innings, 8-6. Jackson Jobe had a rough start, though, giving up six earned runs on eight hits and a walk in 3.2 frames.
In game one of the Thursday doubleheader, the Tigers scored five runs in the second inning during a 10-2 victory. Starter Casey Mize lasted 6.0 innings with one earned run on three hits, no walks, and eight Ks. In the nightcap, Detroit kept it rolling, scoring six runs in the third inning on the way to an 11-1 blowout.
As a starter for Friday, the Tigers are going with Tarik Skubal. So far in 2025, Skubal is 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA in seven starts and 40.2 innings total. Skubal is 44-33 with a 3.29 ERA in 113 career games (110 starts).
Why the Detroit Tigers will win
- The Tigers have won nine of their last 10 games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Rangers have lost eight of their last nine road games after playing the previous day.
- The Rangers have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six road games against American League opponents after playing the previous day.
- The Tigers have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 night games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Tigers have led after 3 innings in each of their last four home games.
- The Tigers have led after 5 innings in each of their last four home games.
Why the Texas Rangers will win
- The underdogs have won four of the Rangers’ last five games at Comerica Park.
- The Tigers have lost eight of their last 11 games as home favorites against AL West opponents following a win.
- The Rangers have covered the run line in eight of their last nine games at Comerica Park against teams that held a winning record.
- The Tigers have failed to cover the run line in six of their last seven games against the Rangers following a win.
- The Rangers have won the first inning in three of their last four road games against opponents that held a winning record.
- The Tigers have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four night games.
- The Rangers have led after 5 innings in each of their last four road night games.
Total Runs Facts
- Nine of the Tigers’ last 10 games have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Seven of the Rangers’ last eight road games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Tigers’ last six games as home favorites against American League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in four of the Rangers’ last five games as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
Tigers vs Rangers Prediction
I’ll stick with the Tigers. This should be a pretty great starter matchup if both guys are on point, though. Skubal is doing very well over his last trio, with a 1-0 record and just three earned runs on 15 hits and a walk in 17.0 combined innings. Skubal is coming off a no-decision versus the Angels on May 2. As for Corbin, he’s posted just five earned runs over his last three starts combined, giving up 19 hits and five walks over a span of 15.1 innings. Corbin is 1-1 in that trio, and last went 5.2 innings with one earned in a no-decision versus the Mariners on May 3.
Detroit was excellent in their doubleheader on Thursday, scoring a whopping 21 runs over the course of two outings. That makes four straight wins, with eight or more runs scored in each, and I like the Tigers to keep it going Friday. All of that said, however, the line’s probably too thick to mess with.