The Toronto Blue Jays will face off against the Detroit Tigers in the first of a four-game weekend series featuring two American League division leaders on Thursday evening. Toronto recently secured an 8-4 victory against the New York Yankees, while Detroit suffered a 6-1 defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates in their latest outing. Currently, the Blue Jays hold a record of 60-42 and lead the AL East, despite being 23-25 on the road this season. The Tigers, with a record of 60-43, are at the top of the AL Central and boast a strong home record of 32-18 in 2025.
The matchup is set to begin at 6:40 p.m. ET at Comerica Park. Historically, the Tigers have performed well against the Blue Jays, winning seven of the past nine encounters. According to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, Detroit is favored at -136 on the money line, suggesting a strong level of confidence in their chances.
The pitching matchup is particularly intriguing. Right-hander Reese Olson, who has an impressive 2.71 ERA this season, is slated to start for the Tigers. Olson has recorded 61 strikeouts in 63 innings and has a remarkable record of 1-0 with a 0.55 ERA against Toronto in his career. Riley Greene remains a key offensive player for Detroit, batting .276 this season with 25 home runs and 79 RBIs.
On the other side, the Blue Jays will send left-hander Eric Lauer to the mound. Lauer holds a 2.80 ERA and has demonstrated solid strikeout capabilities, projected to average over 5 strikeouts this game. Catcher Alejandro Kirk has been a standout for Toronto, hitting .304 with 46 RBIs this season, making him a vital part of their lineup.
As both teams are vying for a critical win in the playoff race, fans can expect an exciting game filled with competitive energy. The latest predictions indicate a possible high-scoring matchup, with SportsLine’s model projecting a total of 8.8 combined runs.
With both teams showing their strengths and looking to maintain their division leads, this series is expected to have significant implications moving forward. It’s a great opportunity for baseball fans to watch two top teams go head-to-head.