Detroit Tigers Best Bets For The 2024 MLB Season

The Detroit Tigers will open the 2024 season on April 8 at home against the White Sox. The Tigers are getting attention from baseball experts as a “promising team” that might surprise this year.

That would be a welcome development to fans, who’ve been waiting through a rebuild that’s dragged on for about five years. The last Tigers playoff victory came in 2013 when manager Jim Leyland was still smoking in the Detroit dugout, Joe Biden was Vice President, and Corona was just a Mexican beer.

The Tigers hope to be relevant again, and with several young players and a few free-agent signings, they could be. Even if they don’t win the World Series, there are plenty of strong wagers being offered by Michigan sports betting apps.

Can The Tigers Win Division, Make The Playoffs?

MLB added a sixth playoff team for 2024 and beyond. That means one more chance for teams to squeak into the postseason. In 2021, Detroit won 77 games, finishing 15 games back of a playoff spot.

Season Win Total

DraftKings Michigan and Caesars Michigan have the Tigers at 77.5 wins for their season win total. That’s probably right about where this team will finish. Unless you have strong feelings that prospects will be impactful for the Tigers, don’t touch the over in this betting market.”

AL Central Division Odds

Over at FanGraphs, which has a good track record of forecasting such things, the Tigers are projected to win 75 games in 2024. That would leave them far, far shy of making the playoffs, but, we know what they say about the best laid “schemes” of mice and men…

BetMGM Michigan has the Tigers at +750 to win the AL Central. That’s probably optimistic, as it places them behind only the White Sox and Twins for shortest odds. FanDuel Michigan and DraftKings are offering the same +750 odds.

Prediction: The Tigers will finish no higher than second in the AL Central, where the White Sox and surprising Guardians will compete for first place.

More football on the way: Can you bet on the USFL in Michigan?

The Biggest Prizes

Just winning the division would turn a lot of heads, but what are the Tigers’ chances of getting to the World Series, or even winning it?

AL Championship Odds

Caesars Sportsbook lists the Tigers at +2800 to win the American League pennant. BetMGM has Detroit at +2000, so someone there likes them better for some reason. The longest odds I found were +3000 at FanDuel.

Prediction: Stranger things have happened, like in 2016 when Cleveland vaulted 13 games to win the division and the pennant, but that’s the exception, not the rule. A winning record would be a fantastic season for the Tigers. If they get into the playoffs and somehow navigate their way to a World Series, it would be a miracle. But if you enjoy betting on miracles, $100 will get you $3,000 from FanDuel if manager A.J. Hinch gets the Tigers to the Fall Classic.

World Series Odds

BetMGM and BetRivers like the Tigers more than other books. Why? Maybe they bank on rookies to contribute, or maybe they like the young pitching. But, stay away from those books if you want to place a futures wagers on Detroit for the 2024 MLB season.

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Things To Remember About Baseball Teams

  1. Young teams typically require 3-4 years to climb their way into contention. Detroit has a second-year centerfielder, a rookie left fielder and first baseman, and three starting pitchers basically in their second full season in the big leagues. This is a team that gets carded at the hotel bar.
  2. A team that improves one season tends to win fewer games the following year.
  3. Teams that outperform their Pythagorean projection usually take a step back the next season. Detroit should have won 75 games last year based on Pythagorean (runs scored compared to runs allowed), but they won 77.
  4. Most people overestimate the potential of prospects, especially pitchers.
  5. While managers can make a difference and help shape teams into winners, managers do not win a lot of games for a team. Like Kong, talent is king.

Torkelson, Greene: Rookie Of The Year Odds

It’s been a long time since Detroit has had such anticipation for a pair of rookies, probably since 1978 when Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker were in their first full seasons. That turned out well: Whitaker was the 1978 AL Rookie of the Year, and he and Trammell starred for the Tigers for nearly two decades.

The 2024 Tigers’ hopes are largely pinned on rookies Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene, who are not only best pals but also both pegged to be in the lineup a lot. Torkelson is a first baseman with power, while Greene is a five-tool left fielder. Both had fine seasons at the top minor league level last season, and they appear ready to get playing time in the Motor City. Both will make their MLB debuts in 2024.

Sportsbooks like Torkelson a little more, and for reason. While Torkelson has 30-HR power, the right-hander doesn’t sacrifice contact and hitting ability. He could mature into an Alex Bregman type of hitter. Meanwhile, Greene is a line-drive hitting left-hander. He also has good pop, but in Comerica Park, he may not hit as many homers as Torkelson. Greene is a good baserunner and also could develop into a Gold Glove left fielder.

BetMGM has Torkelson at+500 to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award, and Greene at +1100. DraftKings lists Torkelson at +450, and Caesars has Greene at +2000.

Prediction: A lot of money will be on Torkelson, but Greene may adjust quicker to big league pitching, which could result in a higher batting average, which voters like for ROY. Go that route with your bets.

Other Detroit Tigers Player Futures Bets

BetRivers has new Detroit shortstop Javier Baez at +10,000 to win the AL MVP Award. The sportsbook lists pitchers Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize at +6000 to win the Cy Young. I like that bet, on either one of those young hurlers, over anything to do with Baez.

Prediction: Mize and Greene are the most likely Tigers to win a regular season award.

About the Author

Dan Holmes

Dan Holmes has written three books about sports. He previously worked for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Major League Baseball. He enjoys writing, running, and lemon bars. He lives near Lake Michigan with his daughters and usually has an orange cream soda nearby.