Tigers vs Dodgers Picks and Predictions: Los Angeles Continues Winning Ways

The Detroit Tigers (6-13) are losers of six straight and the hopes that this year's revamped roster could turn things around are dwindling quickly.

That streak may continue in the second game of their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers (13-6), who bounced back from their series loss to the Diamondbacks with a 5-1 win last night.

Continue reading for our free MLB picks and predictions for Tigers vs. Dodgers on Saturday, April 30th.

Tigers vs Dodgers odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Dodgers opened as massive -300 favorites and are as high as -360 at some books. The total opened at 8 and has since moved to 7.5.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until first pitch and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.

Tigers vs Dodgers predictions

• Prediction: Dodgers ML (-335)
• Prediction: Under 7.5 (-105)
• Best bet: Dodgers -1.5 (-155)

Picks made on 4/30/2022 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Tigers vs Dodgers game info

• Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
• Date: Saturday, April 30, 2022
• First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports, MLB Network, SNLA

Tigers vs Dodgers betting preview

Starting pitchers

Beau Brieske (0-1, 5.40 ERA): Brieske made his MLB debut last week against the Rockies, allowing three earned runs in five innings but just three hits altogether, including two home runs.

Clayton Kershaw (3-0, 2.65 ERA): Kershaw has had a rollercoaster of a season, starting it off with his perfect seven inning start. Kershaw then had a tough go against the Braves but bounced back in his last start, allowing just one earned run in five innings against the Padres.

Weather

Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.

Key injuries

Tigers: Kyle Funkhouser RP (Out)
Dodgers: David Price RP (Out), Victor Gonzalez RP (Out)
Find our latest MLB injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Dodgers have the second-best Unders record at 13-5-1 (72.2%). Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Dodgers

Tigers vs Dodgers picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

After following his perfect seven-inning start with a rocky one against the Braves, there was a lot of uncertainty about which version of Clayton Kershaw we would get in 2022.

But Kershaw took the mound on Sunday Night Baseball last week and put together a gem, allowing just four hits and no walks in a five-inning start where he allowed just one earned run. Saturday night sets the table for another brilliant start by the veteran given his track record against this collection of Tigers batters he will face. 

Kershaw has an absurd 45.3% strikeout rate and 3.8% walk rate, and has allowed just a .176 batting average and .314 slugging percentage. Javier Baez is the lone batter for Detroit with any type of notable success against Kershaw, having gone 6 for 22 against the southpaw, with two of those going for home runs.

Taking the mound opposite of the 2014 MVP and three-time Cy Young winner is a fresh face: Beau Brieske. The 24-year-old right-hander is the 22nd ranked Tigers prospect according to MLB.com and has been a surprise considering that he was just a 27th-round pick in 2019.

He took home the Tigers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year award last year after ascending admirably from high Single-A ball all the way to Triple-A. Brieske's major league debut came last Saturday against the Rockies, in which he did manage to allow just three hits and two walks in five innings.

However, two of those three hits were home runs. Brieske will look to bounce back and keep the ball in the yard against a Dodgers lineup that is averaging five runs per game, the highest mark in the league.

And to that point, things don't look pretty for the Tigers' offense. They average just 3.11 runs per game, the second-lowest mark in the league. Outside of generating walks (their 9.5% walk rate ranks 11th), the Tigers don't stack up well at all. They rank 19th in strikeout rate, 19th in batting average, and 29th in slugging percentage.

There is simply too much lopsidedness on the mound and at the plate, and the odds speak volumes about that.

Prediction: Dodgers moneyline (-335 at DraftKings)

Over/Under analysis

Both teams have played to the Under very favorably. Detroit is gone 12-7 (63.2%) that way, and the Dodgers have played to the second-best Unders record at 13-5-1 (72.2%).

Given Kershaw's excellent track record against a Tigers' lineup which was already struggling to generate runs, we may see another Under added to those tallies on Saturday night.

With just a weak 4 mph wind blowing out tonight and a projected lower humidity, the weather won't help carry any balls out of Dodger Stadium.

Prediction: Under 7.5 (-105 at BetMGM)

Best bet

It's hard to look through this matchup and generate any optimism for the Tigers in the second game of this three-game series.

Beau Brieske admirably ascended through the minor leagues last year but the stage is simply much larger as he takes the mound against the 2020 World Series champions and top offense in the league.

Additionally, the Tigers' hitters have done very little this year thus far to believe they can keep pace with the Dodgers given that they will look to change their look against Clayton Kershaw, who has been absolute nails outside the one start against Atlanta.

Unfortunately for Detroit, the poor play and resulting losing streak both look to continue on Saturday night. Expect the Dodgers to create some tangible separation over the course of the game and bring home a convincing win.

Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (-155 at DraftKings)

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