Can Detroit Tigers Save 2022 MLB Playoff Hopes with Players-Only Meeting?

Dan Favale
By , Updated on: Jun 16, 2022 12:00 AM
Can Detroit Tigers save their season?

Baseball enthusiasts have known for a while the best MLB betting sites in 2022 don't particularly love the Detroit Tigers...or their chances of salvaging their 2022 MLB playoff hopes. 

After five consecutive seasons in which they finished well below .500, this was supposed to be the year they re-entered the postseason picture. Instead, nearly halfway through the year, they find themselves miles away from the 2022 MLB Wild Card, sitting in fourth place inside the AL Central. And following a loss to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, June 15, they decided to hold a players-only meeting in an attempt to reboot their season. But is it already too late?

As we drop our best MLB bets for all the games taking place on Thursday, June 16 Detroit's push to begin anew against the Texas Rangers will be our headlining focus. With that said, we of course have MLB picks for some other key tilts on the schedule. Let's start things off by taking a look at the latest odds on MLB:

FavoriteBetOnlineBetOnlineUnderdog
Boston Red Sox-152+128Oakland Athletics
San Diego Padres-164+138Chicago Cubs
Toronto Blue Jays-260+215Baltimore Orioles
Cleveland Guardians-126+108Colorado Rockies
Philadelphia Phillies-180+152Washington Nationals
New York Mets-136+116Milwaukee Brewers
Texas Rangers-126+108Detroit Tigers
Los Angeles Angels-120+102Seattle Mariners

While single-game baseball betting lines don't tend to move that much, they are subject to shift right up until the opening pitch. Make sure, then, you're double-checking these MLB betting odds before settling on any picks. It's also a good idea for you to peruse all of our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. The information we provide will help you spot the best sports betting bonuses for MLB and a wide range of other leagues.

Detroit Tigers Players-Only Meeting is Too Little, Too Late

Injuries to their pitching staff have forced the Tigers to lean on a slew of inexperienced arms to carry their rotation. When things haven't gone right, it has taken a toll on their relief pitchers in particular.

But that doesn't explain the struggles of Detroit's position players, especially behind the plate. The Tigers are 28th in batting average and rank dead last in on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Their 13-0 loss at the hands of the White Sox, which prompted the players-only meeting in question, is basically a microcosm of their entire season.

In the grand scheme of things, we don't think it will matter. Detroit is 14 games under .500 and fading fast; time is running out for it to re-enter the AL Wild Card race. But the Rangers are also having their own struggles. They've lost two straight and failed to get on base at a consistent clip all season. The Tigers may be on the verge of imploding, but this is a game we think they'll take—and pay out better than even money in the process.

OSB Prediction: Detroit Tigers (+108)

Detroit Tigers To beat the Texas Rangers
BetOnline
+108

San Diego Padres Are Tantalizing Bets vs. Chicago Cubs

Things are really coming together for the San Diego Padres, who are winners of six straight and have claimed the top spot in the NL West Division, moving ahead of the once-upon-a-time World Series favorite Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rolling with San Diego over the Chicago Cubs is pretty much a given. But we're especially high on it given they're not laying a -200 or worse. The Cubs have also lost nine straight as they try staking their claim to the worst team in baseball. 

OSB Prediction: San Diego Padres (-164)

San Diego Padres To beat the Chicago Cubs
BetOnline
-164

Cleveland Guardians Stay Hot Against Colorado Rockies

Slowly, surely, the Cleveland Guardians are working their way up the AL Central Division ladder. They are now within 2.5 games of the leading Minnesota Twins, and their play continues to look up.

Generating offense at a high enough clip remains an issue. But the Guardians pitching staff is starting to wreak some serious havoc. Cleveland now flirts with top-seven rankings in both ERA and opponent batting average, and they've won eight of their last 10 games, including each of their past three.

Given the state of the Colorado Rockies, who have a minus-67 run differential and rank among the worst moneyline bets in baseball this season, we have an easy decision on our hands.

OSB Prediction: Cleveland Guardians (-126)

Cleveland Guardians To beat the Colorado Rockiets
BetOnline
-125

New York Mets Take Advantage of Slumping Milwaukee Brewers

Perhaps no team has been a more turbulent roller coaster this season than the Milwaukee Brewers. Color the New York Mets happy about that.

Milwaukee is now 2-8 over their past 10 games, during which time they've plummeted to 22nd in on-base percentage. The Mets, meanwhile, continue to lead MLB in on base percentage while ranking fourth in overall run differential.

A recent stretch of roughly .500 play might have some concerned. Not us. The Mets are for real, and they should take care of the slumping Brewers.

OSB Prediction: New York Mets (-136)

New York Mets To beat the Milwaukee Brewers
BetOnline
-136

Philadelphia Phillies Keep Climbing NL East with Win Over Washington Nationals

Did anyone see the Philadelphia Phillies coming? Because, admittedly, we sure didn't.

Other than the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians, there may be no hotter team in baseball. Philly has quietly won eight of 10 while taking off on offense. Led by heavy hitter Bryce Harper, they are now fourth in slugging percentage.

Indeed, the Phillies' pitching staff has left much to be desired. Opponents are batting .241 against—the same mark as they're hitting against the Detroit Tigers. This doesn't much concern us Thursday night. The Phillies are facing a Washington Nationals squad with an even shakier pitching rotation than that of the Detroit Tigers. In fact, Washington is allowing opponents to hit .277 on the year—the worst mark in the league.

OSB Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies (-180)

Philadelphia Phillies To beat the Washington Nationals
BetOnline
-180

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all of your 2022 MLB betting:

Meet the author

Dan Favale

Dan first began writing about sports back in 2011. At the time, his expertise lied in the NBA and NFL. More than one decade, that remains the case. But he's also expanded his catalog to include extensive knowledge and analysis on the NHL, MLB, tennis, NASCAR, college ba...

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