Oddsmakers Not High On Detroit Tigers, But There Are Reasons For Optimism

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For Detroit sports fans, the beginning of a new season offers a glimmer of hope amidst the few opportunities.

2022 brings a glimmer of hope for Michigan sports bettors as they find reasons to be cautiously optimistic about the Detroit Tigers.

After a remarkable 2021 season, Detroit implemented minor adjustments during the offseason to enhance their roster.

As Opening Day for the league approaches on Thursday and the Tigers kick off their season on Friday, it begs the question of where they stand in the playoff picture for this season.

Tigers in the playoff mix?

It is highly unlikely that the Detroit Tigers will win the World Series in 2022.

Detroit continues to be ranked among the lower third of the league when it comes to their chances of winning the title, according to oddsmakers.

The ALCS can be stated similarly.

Nevertheless, the Tigers are deemed as contenders for the AL Central championship this year.

The majority of sportsbooks consider the Tigers as the main contenders to the Minnesota Twins in the Central division, closely following the Chicago White Sox.

The reason why the Sox are favored is quite solid, but the other teams in the division appear to lack experience and are all competing for the top spot.

Detroit Tigers win total expectations not growing

Even though Detroit surpassed their projected win total of 70 games from last year by finishing with a record of 77-85, oddsmakers are not acknowledging their significant improvement.

The over/under for Detroit’s wins this year is set at 77.5 by the majority of sportsbooks.

A.J. Hinch, the manager of the Tigers in his second year, has achieved a minimum of 77 victories in each of his last six seasons as a manager in Major League Baseball. This impressive record encompasses his tenure with the Houston Astros for five years.

It is important to note that Detroit had a challenging start to the 2021 season, with a record of 9-24. However, they showed remarkable improvement, finishing the rest of the season with a record that was seven games above .500.

Key additions to the lineup

Last season, Detroit struggled significantly in generating runs, exposing one of their major weaknesses. With a total of 697 runs scored throughout the year, the Tigers found themselves ranked better than only seven other teams in this aspect.

In order to tackle this issue, the team opted to secure the services of shortstop Javier Baez for a substantial 6-year contract worth $140 million during the offseason. Additionally, Detroit made a trade on Monday acquiring outfielder Austin Meadows in exchange for Isaac Paredes and a draft pick.

In 2019 and last season, Meadows, a 26-year-old left-handed player for the Tampa Bay Rays, displayed his prowess with 33 and 27 home runs respectively. Additionally, he showcased his ability to drive in runs by tallying an impressive 106 RBIs in 2021.

In 2016, Baez played a vital role in the Chicago Cubs’ victorious World Series campaign. Additionally, he was honored as a Gold Glove recipient in 2020. Last season, while representing both the Cubs and the New York Mets, Baez showcased his impressive skills by hitting 31 home runs and contributing 87 RBIs.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook MI, Baez holds the top spot in the AL MVP race in Detroit at the beginning of the year. His odds of winning the award are listed at +7000.