The Detroit Tigers hope for another strong showing from their ace when they face the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Thursday night.
Tarik Skubal will get the start as the Tigers look to build on their 6.5-game lead in the AL Central, while the Twins hope Bailey Ober can help with their late push back towards a .500 record.
There should be runs in this contest, and we explain why the total is where you should target your focus in our Tigers vs. Twins predictions and MLB picks for Thursday, August 14.
Tigers vs Twins prediction
Tigers vs Twins best bet: Over 7.5 (+100)
Tarik Skubal is rightly the favorite to win the AL Cy Young award according to the oddsmakers. The numbers he’s posted are amazing, and his ranking in most pitching metrics puts him above anybody in the American League.
And while he’s still been outstanding since the All-Star break, there have been some cracks in his armor. In his last two starts, he’s allowed seven earned runs in 11 ⅔ IP, and allowed as many home runs — three — as he’d surrendered in his previous 11 starts combined.
Making matters more concerning, the Detroit Tigers didn’t make enough moves at the trade deadline to shore up a shaky bullpen with the 13th highest ERA and 14th highest WHIP. That’s why three starts ago, Skubal pitched six scoreless innings and saw his team still lose 6-1 after he departed.
Bailey Ober has had a polar opposite season for the Minnesota Twins. His 5.16 ERA and 1.38 WHIP were helped by his strong outing last week against the Royals, where he allowed just one earned run over 6 IP.
That ended a streak of six consecutive starts in which Ober allowed at least four earned runs. That includes a defeat to the Tigers on June 28 in which he surrendered seven earned in 5 ⅔ IP as he gave up 11 hits including four home runs.
Speaking on bullpens, Minnesota’s pen has posted the seventh-worst ERA this season. So when Ober is pulled, there’s high potential for late-inning scoring for the Tigers.
Skubal starting is lowering this total, and understandably so. But there have been double-digit runs scored in both his last two starts, and 8+ in six of his last nine.
The Tigers have also seen seven of their last nine games reach double-digit runs. I’ll take the Over here with two shaky bullpens helping out the cause.
Tigers vs Twins same-game parlay (SGP)
Tigers vs Twins odds
- Moneyline: Detroit -205 | Minnesota +170
- Run line: Detroit -1.5 (-130) | Minnesota +1.5 (+110)
- Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+100) | Under 7.5 (-120)
Tigers vs Twins trend
The Detroit Tigers have hit the Game Total Over in 36 of their last 62 games (+9.75 Units / 14% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Twins.
How to watch Tigers vs Twins and game info
| Location | Target Field, Minneapolis, MN |
| Date | Thursday, August 14, 2025 |
| First pitch | 7:40 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSNDT, MNNT |
| Tigers starting pitcher | Tarik Skubal (11-3, 2.35 ERA) |
| Twins starting pitcher | Bailey Ober (4-7, 5.16 ERA) |
Tigers vs Twins latest injuries
Tigers vs Twins weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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