New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

The New York Yankees will try to avoid a sweep in Detroit as they take on the surging Tigers in a Wednesday matinee at Comerica Park.

The Tigers are riding a five-game win streak and have allowed just two runs across the first two games of this series.

Meanwhile, the Yankees, who opened the season 6-2, have dropped three straight so the storylines are rich in this early-season finale.

The Yankees’ prized offseason pitching pickup, Max Fried, will face off against his high school teammate Jack Flaherty.

Both pitchers are off to strong starts, but the edge may go to Fried here – not only for his stuff but for the matchup advantages he presents.

The Yankees remember Flaherty well from last year’s World Series Game 5 and will be looking for redemption.

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers betting picks and predictions

Yankees -1.5 (+120)

This spot sets up perfectly for the Yankees to snap their three-game losing streak and salvage the final game of the series.

Left-hander Fried brings a 2.61 ERA through 10.1 innings into the matchup, but has allowed traffic with a 1.55 WHIP against weaker competition in the Brewers and Pirates.

His stuff, however, especially his curveball and cutting fastball, should generate plenty of weak contact and induce ground balls in the chilly Detroit air.

The key difference in this game is how the Tigers' left-handed heavy lineup matches up poorly with Fried. The slugging Kerry Carpenter is out of the starting lineup, Riley Greene, their most consistent bat, sees a significant dip in production against southpaws and offseason addition infielder Gleyber Torres (former Yankee), who has always hit left-handed pitching extremely well, remains out for this game with an oblique injury sustained in game three of the season.

Flaherty, on the other hand, may be pitching over his skis. While his 2.38 ERA and 0.88 WHIP through 11.1 innings are strong, his numbers got a lift from blanking the lowly White Sox last time out.

Flaherty also gave up 24 homers in 162 innings last year, and while the Yankees have not homered once during this three-game skid, they launched an insane 25 home runs in the first eight games, and current Yankees hitters have a combined .549 SLG against Flaherty over 51 at-bats, including home runs from Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr. Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt.

The Yankees’ star power and lineup balance should play nicely against Flaherty, whose fastball is quite vulnerable when left up and over the middle of the plate. 

Expect the Yankees to strike first, scoring a couple within the first couple of innings after being blanked by Tarik Skubal yesterday.

New York has too much talent to drop four straight, and with the added motivation of avoiding a sweep, the bats should come alive.

Under 7 (-115)

The total sits at 7, and we like the under here.

While Flaherty is vulnerable to the long ball and Fried has faced death by a million cuts (base hits) to begin the season, both pitchers have been highly effective to start the year, profile generally well in this particular matchup and have an extra chip on their shoulder going head-to-head. 

Add in the fact that it’s a 1:10 PM ET start in temperatures expected in the low 40s, and run production may be limited despite some high-end offensive names.

Fried has the stuff to stifle Detroit’s lefty-leaning bats, while the Yankees have managed just 2 total runs through the first two games of the series.

If Fried is able to locate his fastball early and land his curveball for strikes, he should be in line for his deepest and most efficient outing yet as a Yankee.

On the other side, we like the Yankees to score a few in the early innings, but Flaherty won’t let things get out of control.

This Yankees lineup is familiar with Flaherty now, and while they slugged him in last year’s World Series Game 5, Flaherty is coming in with confidence after two strong outings to open 2025. 

Even if the Yankees break out a bit offensively, a 5-1 type result is on the table – enough to cover the spread while still keeping the total under 7.

With both bullpens rested and the weather unlikely to help the ball carry, the under is the right side.

Aaron Judge to Record an RBI (+140)

If there’s a Yankee most likely to spark the offense, it’s Aaron Judge.

He’s off to a torrid start in April with 6 home runs and 18 RBI, tied for the league lead in both categories. He’s also seeing the ball well in this series, picking up three hits over the last two games and raising his average to .341.

Judge has a solid history against Flaherty, including a first-inning home run off him in Game 5 of last year’s World Series. That familiarity could come in handy here, especially as the Yankees look to jump out early and avoid playing from behind again.

Flaherty has been vulnerable to right-handed power throughout his career, and that includes surrendering 24 home runs in 2024.

Even if the ball doesn’t leave the park, Judge has proven he can drive in runs with base hits and sac flies.

With the Yankees due for some offensive regression, Judge is a strong value at +140 to record an RBI.

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers odds

NY Yankees	-155 ML
DET Tigers	+130 ML
Run Line	Yankees -1.5 (+120)
Total	O/U 7

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers player props

 Player Home Run Odds

Aaron Judge (NYY)	+235
Spencer Torkelson (DET)	+575
Paul Goldschmidt (NYY)	+625
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (NYY)	+650
Ben Rice (NYY)	+700
Austin Wells NYY)	+750

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.