Intro: The Chicago Cubs are taking on the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of their two-game series. The Tigers are coming off a 3-2 loss against the Chicago White Sox, losing the series 2-1. As for the Cubs, they’re coming off a dominant 7-1 win against the Washington Nationals, winning the series 2-1. The pitching duel will be Ben Brown for the Cubs and Tarik Skubal for the Tigers. Let’s jump into this game and cook up a winning slip!
Chicago Cubs @ Detroit Tigers Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Chicago Cubs | +1.5 (-134) | Over 7 (-122) | +164 |
| Detroit Tigers | -1.5 (+112) | Under 7 (+100) | -196 |
| Odds Are Subject to Change Date and Time: June 6th, 2025 @ 7:10 PM EST | |||
Crucial Stats
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are coming off a nice 7-1 win over the Washington Nationals last night. With a record of 39-23, the Cubs sit in 1st place in the NL Central. They are one of the best offenses in Major League Baseball. For the season, they rank second in runs, fourth in OPS, second in batting average, second in total bases, and fifth in home runs. Over their last ten games, Chicago has a record of 8-2, including a 19-12 record on the road.
Defensively, the Cubs are an average to slightly above-average team in their better performances. They rank 12th in runs allowed, 14th in OPSA, 17th in BAA, 16th in TBA, and 13th in errors. Ben Brown is taking the mound for the Cubs in this game. Brown has had an up-and-down season thus far. In the 10 games he’s started, he has a 3-2 record, a 5.72 ERA, 71 Ks, allowing a .277 BA, and a WHIP of 1.465. Coming off a strong performance, 6 IP, 0 ER, and 9 Ks, if the Cubs want to win this game, he must be on his A-game.
Regarding the Cubs’ injuries and team leaders, aside from a few pitchers, this is a relatively healthy Cubs lineup. Second baseman Nico Hoerner leads the team in BA (.294) and Hits (67), Kyle Tucker leads the team in OBP (.395), Seiya Suzuki in RBIs (53), and breakout star Pete Crow-Armstrong in Home Runs (16). Chicago has been one of the best teams all season long and has the talent to compete for the World Series.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are coming off a tough loss in the 10th inning against the Chicago White Sox 3-2. With a record of 41-23, Detroit sits in 1st place in the AL Central. Offensively, this is an elite team. They rank 4th in runs, 9th in OPS, 11th in BA, 7th in TB, and 9th in HRs. Over their last ten games, the Tigers have a record of 7-3, including a 21-8 record at Comerica Park.
Defensively, the Detroit Tigers are one of the best teams in the MLB. For the season, they rank 7th in runs allowed, 5th in OPSA, 6th in BAA, 7th in TBA, and 6th in errors. The reigning Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal, will start this game for the Tigers. He is putting together another dominant season. In his 21 starts, Skubal has a 5-2 record, a 2.26 ERA, 99 Ks (3rd in the MLB), allowing a .194 BA, and a WHIP of .793. Simply put, when he’s on the mound for the Tigers, he is one of the best pitchers in baseball.
In terms of the Tigers’ injuries and team leaders, aside from a few pitchers, this is a relatively healthy Tigers lineup. Left fielder Riley Greene has had a dominant season, leading the team in BA (.282), RBIs (42), and Hits (67), while Spencer Torkelson leads the team with 14 Home Runs, and Gleyber Torres leads the team in OBP (.379). Many questioned whether their Cinderella run last season would be a one-off or the turning point in the franchise. This is the new normal for Detroit, as they have the best record in the MLB, unlike the Rockies, haha.
Prediction
The Detroit Tigers will defeat the Chicago Cubs in this game and cover the 1.5-run line in this game. Simply put, when Skubal is on the mound for Detroit, you can pencil in 6 IP, five or fewer hits allowed, and 7 Ks. Despite the Cubs having one of the best offenses in the league and significant away splits, batting .277 on the road and .254 against left-handed pitchers (LHP), the Tigers are an elite home team. Their 21-8 home record ranks 2nd in the MLB. The Tigers maul the Cubs and cruise to a multi-run win!
