Yankees vs. Tigers Predictions, Picks, Odds & Starting Pitchers: Today, 4/9
Wednesdays in the MLB are often the most unique of the midweek action, as it usually provides all-day action with it being a transition day and finale of many series. That’s exactly the case in Detroit with the Tigers hosting the New York Yankees at 1:10 PM ET. Therefore, we’re here to break down our Yankees vs. Tigers predictions for you.
We’ll also share how you can best add daily fantasy sports to the best bet from our Yankees vs. Tigers picks with a $1,000 Underdog promo code bonus!
Yankees vs. Tigers Predictions For MLB on Amazon Prime, 4/9
It’s felt like forever for Detroit fans in terms of being able to talk about the postseason, but believe it not, this was nearly an ALCS matchup just last year! The Tigers fell just short in the ALDS 3-2 to the Cleveland Guardians, or else they would have met the Bronx Bombers for a chance to reach the World Series.
Regardless, it’s way too early to discuss a possible playoff series matchup, so let’s focus on this series finale. It’s an interesting one because through the first two games this week, both sides have already put their ace on the mound. The Yankees got that started with lefty Carlos Rodon on Monday.
The Tigers didn’t fear the southpaw, and then countered with a lefty ace of their own last night with Tarik Skubal. Along with - get ready for it - WEATHER, there is a lot to consider for the best bet from our Yankees vs. Tigers predictions.
New York Yankees: Max Fried’s Fresh Start
Before we get that far, we’ve got another lefty “ace” of sorts going again for the third straight game between these AL foes. Former Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried is coming off his most disappointing season, and he’s hoping that heading north was the right call for a change of scenery.
He’s 1-0 through his first two games with his new team after finishing last year 11-10, but he hasn’t had that vintage performance yet. Fried has still allowed six and seven hits in those starts along with seven runs, albeit just three of them earned. He’s hoping that Detroit’s bats don’t do to him what they did to Carlos Rodon on Monday.
Detroit Tigers: Jack Flaherty Returns As A Champion
Now that the Tigers have put their ace on the mound, it’s time for Jack Flaherty to get the call…again. No, not again just in terms of this season, although it will be his third start. We say again in the sense that Flaherty was on the Tigers just last season before leaving to go to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Doing so earned him his first World Series ring, even if he did go just 1-2 with a 7.35 ERA with LA in the postseason. In fact, two of those starts came against the Yankees in the World Series, including the closeout game! So, it’s safe to say that he’s more than comfortable facing the loaded lineup, even if they do have torpedo bats now.
How To Watch MLB Opening Week Today
You’ve already seen that this Yankees vs. Tigers game is an early afternoon first pitch, and it’s also a featured matchup on Amazon Prime! We’ve seen the NFL take a similar approach for big matchups, and you can see more regarding how to watch Yankees vs. Tigers today here:
- Where: Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan
- When: 1:10 PM ET on 4/9
- Watch on TV: Regional sports networks
- Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Yankees vs. Tigers Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
After these teams traded aces on the mounds for the first two games, today’s Yankees vs. Tigers odds have a set for the closest game of the series:
- Run Line: New York Yankees -1.5 (+125) vs. Detroit Tigers +1.5 (-150)
- Money Line: New York Yankees (-150) vs. Detroit Tigers (+125)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 7.5 (+100) vs. Under 7.5 (-120)
Yankees vs. Tigers Best Bet: Under 7.5 Runs (Add Player Projections At Underdog)
With some notable names on the mound and plenty in the lineups, player projections could certainly be a part of your Yankees vs. Tigers picks, but as for our best bet, we’re going to keep things nice and simple with a standard market.
If you haven’t been able to tune into this series yet this week, the weather is still very much a factor in Detroit. Not only is it cold in Michigan right now, but there was even rain and snow in the forecast just yesterday! That’s already not ideal for hitting conditions, and Comerica Park is already considered a significant pitcher’s park.
We know that Detroit hit a lefty well back on Monday, but even if they get a few off Fried today, we still like the game total to stay under. It’s more about trusting Flaherty over Fried, and his experience against the Yankees when they were playing their best has us feeling confident.
To help the Dodgers win the World Series 4-1 over New York, Flaherty was more of an opener than a true starter, but he also fully started Game 2. En route to his six strikeouts, it was a game in which slugger Aaron Judge went just 1-for-5 with three strikeouts himself.
Flaherty even recorded five strikeouts in his season-opening game this year against none other than the Dodgers! He followed that up with his first victory of the season, and while he’s no bonafide ace, we just need him to do his part in good pitching conditions.
As this series closes out this afternoon, we’re locking in the best bet from our Yankees vs. Tigers predictions on the under 7.5 runs (consider strikeout projections at Underdog!).
Yankees vs. Tigers Injury Report & Starting Pitchers
As will be the case for a while when it comes to Yankees injury news, they will be without ace Gerrit Cole for quite some time. As for recent news, the addition of DJ LeMahieu to the 10-day injured list certainly doesn’t help their lineup.
In terms of Yankees vs. Tigers news in Detroit, Gleyber Torres won’t get his revenge game against New York just yet, as he too is on the 10-day IL. For whom we WILL see, here are the Yankees vs. Tigers starters for today:
- New York Yankees starting pitcher today: Max Fried (1-0, 2.61 ERA)
- Detroit Tigers starting pitcher today: Jack Flaherty (1-0, 2.38 ERA)
How To Target Yankees vs. Tigers At Underdog & Claim Your $1,000 Bonus With Code ALARM
We didn’t forget about enjoying DFS contests with our Yankees vs. Tigers predictions! Underdog is already the best platform to do so, and here’s how to score their $1,000 promo code bonus:
- Sign up here for a new Underdog account
- Enter our Underdog promo code ALARM
- Deposit at least $10 and up to $2,000
- Receive 50% of the amount in bonus cash guaranteed
As you can see, you can enjoy a boost up to $1,000 right off the bat! Even if you focus on other players, games or even sports like The Masters this week, do it with guaranteed bonus cash by clicking here to activate our exclusive Underdog promo code ALARM!
Player News
Zach Neto (shoulder) could return to the Angels to make his highly anticipated season debut on Friday.
Neto cleared the final hurdle on his minor league rehab assignment — playing shortstop for nine innings on consecutive days. He’s getting the night off on Thursday as the Angels’ brass meets to decide whether or not he’s ready to return or if they want him to play in a few more games before coming back. Either way, it sounds like his return is imminent. Fantasy managers who have been stashing him may finally start to reap some rewards over the weekend.
Twins placed OF Matt Wallner on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 16, with a left hamstring strain.
As anticipated, Wallner lands on the injured list after injuring his hamstring during Tuesday’s ballgame. There’s still no word on the severity of the strain or how much time Wallner stands to miss. Jonah Bride — who was acquired from the Marlins — was added to the Twins’ roster in a corresponding move on Thursday.
Wyatt Langford (oblique) will begin a minor league rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco on Thursday.
The 23-year-old budding superstar will serve as the designated hitter on Thursday night before easing his way back into the outfield. Langford wanted to skip the rehab assignment altogether, so as long as he shows that he’s ready to go, there’s a chance that the Rangers could bring him back at some point during their weekend series against the Dodgers.
Kyle Schwarber went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs on Thursday afternoon, propelling the Phillies to a 6-4 victory over the visiting Giants.
Schwarber got the Phillies on the board with a go-ahead two-run single off of Jordan Hicks and then scored on a wild pitch as part of a five-run opening inning. He also reached on an infield single in the fifth inning but was left stranded there. The 32-year-old slugger is off to a strong start to the 2025 campaign, slashing .284/.435/.597 with six homers, 14 RBI and a stolen base in his first 85 plate appearances.
José Alvarado notched his fourth save of the season on Thursday, protecting a two-run advantage in the ninth inning against the Giants.
The 29-year-old left-hander came on with a three-run lead to protect, but things got a bit closer as he served up a one-out solo homer to Tyler Fitzgerald. After getting Wilmer Flores on a ground ball to shortstop, Alvarado walked Jung Hoo Lee to bring the tying run to the plate before retiring Christian Koss on a fielder’s choice to end it. He appears to be locked in as the preferred ninth inning option for manager Rob Thomson and should continue to provide plenty of fantasy value for as long as he remains healthy and stationed there.
Cristopher Sanchez picked up his second victory of the season on Thursday, racking up a season-high 12 strikeouts over seven innings against the Giants.
The 28-year-old southpaw allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk. The Giants scratched out a run against him in the first inning on a two-out RBI single by Matt Chapman. Sanchez then served up a two-run homer to Chapman in the sixth after Heliot Ramos had reached on an error. He got a whopping 24 swings and misses on 97 pitches in the ballgame — 22 of those on his changeup alone — while posting an elite CSW of 40 percent. Now 2-0 on the season, Sanchez will carry a 2.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 31/6 K/BB ratio (24 1/3 innings) into Tuesday’s showdown against the Mets in New York.