San Diego Padres vs Detroit Tigers Prediction & Picks - MLB
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by Lou Aguila | in MLB Picks
With Nick Pavetta and Tarik Skubal slated to face each other in Thursday’s season-opener between the San Diego Padres and the Detroit Tigers, the Under 7 runs emerges as a strong pick in this match.
Momentum: The Padres finished their subpar Spring Training with a 10-3 win over the Seattle Mariners. San Diego had struggled to score runs in the past four games before exploding with 10 runs in the preseason finale. The Tigers went 2-1 in their final three exhibition matches, including an 11-8 win over the Colorado Rockies.
The Matchup: Two-time CY Young Winner and lefty Tarik Skubal (13-6, 2.21 ERA in 2025) will be the opening day starter for the Tigers. The Padres tapped their own ace, RHP Nick Pavetta (13-5, 2.87 ERA in 2025), to neutralize the Tigers’ batters.
The Betting Board: the Tigers are slight favorites at -130 moneyline and trading at +136 to cover -1.5 runs. The Padres are +110 underdogs and -164 on the +1.5 run line. FanDuel is expecting a low-scoring ballgame, though, setting the total at over/under 7 runs.
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San Diego Padres vs Detroit Tigers Form
Table
| Teams | Pts | P | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8
|
0.531 | 81 | 43 | 38 |
|
25
|
0.422 | 83 | 35 | 48 |
San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers Latest Matches
2/6 (33%)
4/6 (67%)
Mar 23, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 22, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 21, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 20, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 20, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 19, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
Mar 23, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 22, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 20, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 19, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 16, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 14, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
3/6 (50%)
3/6 (50%)
Mar 21, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 20, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 17, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 15, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 14, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 13, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
3/6 (50%)
3/6 (50%)
Mar 24, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 23, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 21, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 20, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 18, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 17, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
2/6 (33%)
4/6 (67%)
Mar 21, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 17, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 16, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 13, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 12, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 9, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
Mar 24, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 23, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 20, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 18, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 15, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
Mar 14, 2026 - MLB Spring Training
San Diego Padres against Detroit Tigers : Head to Head (H2H)
50 %
50 %
Apr 23, 2025 - MLB
Apr 22, 2025 - MLB
Apr 21, 2025 - MLB
Sep 5, 2024 - MLB
Sep 4, 2024 - MLB
Sep 2, 2024 - MLB
San Diego Padres - Detroit Tigers Key Points
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Detroit's last 13 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Detroit's last 11 games on the road.
- San Diego is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games.
- San Diego is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home.
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Our San Diego Padres vs Detroit Tigers Prediction
Fearless Forecast: San Diego edges Detroit 2-1
Best Bet: The Padres take the win here in a nailbiter. I expect Nick Pavetta and Tarik Skubal to dazzle on the mound, keeping the game scoreless through the five innings until the Tigers’ bullpen fumbled anew late in the match. Take the Padres at +110 moneyline.
Secondary Pick: With Pavetta and Skubal going head-to-head on opening day, we should not expect a lot of runs in this game. The Padres and the Tigers have averaged a combined 6 runs over their last three meetings. The total has also gone UNDER in 4 of San Diego's last 5 games and 9 of Detroit's last 11 games on the road.
Our betting prediction for the Detroit Tigers vs. the San Diego Padres: Total Under 7 Runs.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
