With the 2025 MLB season on the horizon, it’s time to start looking at futures bets. One team that stands out as a great value play? The Detroit Tigers, currently listed at +1300 to win the American League. While the National League remains dominated by powerhouses like the Dodgers and Braves, the AL appears wide open. Let’s break down why Detroit is primed to make a deep postseason run and why they’re worth a wager before the odds shift.
Detroit Tigers To Win The American League (+1300, BetMGM)
Baseball season is right around the corner, and now it is time to start looking at some MLB futures for 2025. I already have several wagers in for the year, which I think is going to be a very good one, and hopefully some of these can cash for us when it all comes to a close. Last year, I gave out the Yankees at this number to win the World Series, and they made it there to put us in position. I am not taking the Tigers to win it all, but I think 13/1 for them to win the American League is a good price.
We know what we are going to get from the National League. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a powerhouse with unlimited money, and we know the Braves, Mets, Phillies, and so forth are all at the top. However, I view the American League as wide open for anyone to take. Well, anyone but the Chicago White Sox, who need to be relegated. That division in particular is interesting to me, where I think there is going to be some improvement by this Tigers team that will push them into the playoffs, and push others out.
Last season, the Guardians, Royals, and Tigers all made the postseason in the AL Central, but I think two of them are poised to take a step back. These teams haven’t made any sort of real improvements this offseason, at least to this point, and Cleveland lost one of their better players in Josh Naylor. I expect further regression from ace Shane Bieber as he comes back from Tommy John’s surgery, and they also lost Andres Gimenez because they hate spending money. There is enough of a loss here to knock them out of the 2025 playoffs.
The Royals were also a playoff team in 2024, but they have done little this offseason to address their issues, and instead are “running it back” in 2025, which rarely turns out well. They have a glaring issue defensively in the outfield corner spots, with M.J. Melendez and Hunter Renfroe trotting back out there as two of the worst in MLB. They also still have no answer at third base, with Maikel Garcia slated to start. I am a believer in regression when you do nothing to improve, and that fits perfectly with this Kansas City team.
The Minnesota Twins also did very little this offseason, but they have a roster that I actually like more overall than either Cleveland or Kansas City. The White Sox aren’t a serious franchise and should be treated as more of a minor league team, a complete afterthought. So, that leaves us with just one team left that I like to make a jump this year.
The Detroit Tigers are in the mix right now for Alex Bregman, as his former manager A.J. Hinch pursues him aggressively. It isn’t for sure that he signs with Detroit, but his addition would really help this team skyrocket into contention. They already have a pitching rotation that includes Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, and the recent re-signing of Jack Flaherty also was a huge splash. He was incredible last season for Detroit, with a 2.95 ERA across 106.2 innings and 133 strikeouts before being dealt to the Dodgers.
Outside of that, the Tigers haven’t done a whole lot, but did make two critical additions to the team. They signed Alex Cobb to add to that rotation, who struggled to stay healthy last year with just three starts, but has shown he can be a good middle of the rotation innings eater in the past. Former New York Yankee Gleyber Torres also joins the team, and he struggled immensely in 2024 at the plate, but has shown he can be a great player. He will be looking to bounce back before he hits free agency after this season so he can get paid.
We saw this team make an improbable run to the postseason last year, and I think they can build off of that and improve for 2025. At 13/1 odds, it is certainly worth a play for them to win the American League, which I think is wide open. I’d also play them to win the AL Central at around +275, as I think the Royals and Guardians take a step back, and the Twins will be their biggest threat.
Related
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)
21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.