Dodgers vs. Tigers Prediction, MLB Picks: Tarik Skubal Returns to Detroit

The Detroit Tigers (62-71) rocked MLB when trading superstar SP Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers (80-54) in early August. Skubal, the two-time Cy Young winner, makes his first return to Detroit in Friday, August 28’s matchup beginning at 6:40 p.m. ET.

Coming off an 11-strikeout outing, Skubal is expected to make his 21st start of the season tonight, giving the Dodgers an advantage with a 1.47x payout if they win vs. the Tigers, per PrizePicks Team Picks.

Let’s break down the first matchup of a three-game series, providing a Dodgers vs. Tigers prediction and MLB picks for player projections on PrizePicks.

Make your Dodgers vs. Tigers picks on PrizePicks now!

{{mlb_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}

Dodgers vs. Tigers Prediction, Winner, Over/Under – Friday, August 28

Ahead of Friday evening’s bout, the Dodgers are 6-4 over their last 10 games, compared to the Tigers’ alarming 2-8 mark in the same split. 

However, not all is well in Los Angeles, as it comes off a 3-0 series loss vs. the Braves. With about one month remaining in the regular season, that was a brutal blow to the Dodgers’ stance in the National League standings.

In fact, L.A. now has only a 1.0 game lead over Atlanta for second place in the NL, while trailing the first-place Brewers by 3.0 games. However, this has minimal impact on the Dodgers’ season-long goal: winning a third consecutive World Series pennant. 

PrizePicks Team Picks gives Los Angeles the shortest payout to win the World Series (2.94x). Payouts aren’t as kind to the Tigers’ postseason goals, as Detroit has a 22.22x payout to qualify for the MLB playoffs. 

As mentioned, tonight’s battle is headlined by SP Tarik Skubal (8-7, 2.91 ERA, 2.94 xERA in 120.2 IP) making his return to Detroit, where he won the AL Cy Young award in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. 

Shortly after being traded, Skubal discussed the chance of rejoining the Tigers in the upcoming offseason, “I would love to play my whole career in Detroit. Hopefully those negotiations can pick back up once the playoffs are done. Hopefully, they’re involved with everything. I would love to return.”

However, Skubal is due for a massive payday in the upcoming offseason, making the scenario unlikely. PrizePicks Team Picks lists the following teams with the shortest payouts to be Skubal’s next team following free agency: 

Tarik Skubal Next Team Payouts

With Skubal on the mound, Los Angeles is the clear favorite on Friday, as Tigers SP Drew Anderson (4-5, 4.09 ERA, 3.68 xERA in 81.1 IP) will man the bump for Detroit. 

Dodgers vs. Tigers Winner Payout, Over/Under – Friday, August 28

Considering the Dodgers’ season-long aspirations, Los Angeles as the favorite is far from a surprise, featuring a 1.47x payout to win vs. the Tigers.

Here are the full payouts for the Dodgers vs. Tigers game on Friday, August 28, via PrizePicks Team Picks.

Make your Dodgers vs. Tigers prediction on the winner or over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money—available in 36 states!

Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.

Dodgers vs. Tigers Prediction on Spread – 8/28/26

Here are the key game stats and trends behind our Dodgers vs. Tigers prediction on the run line for Friday, August 28.

• Drew Anderson has primarily featured as a reliever this season, making only six starts over 44 appearances. From 2017 to 2021, he made only two starts in the big leagues, followed by stints in Japanese and Korean pro leagues from 2022 to 2025. 
• Frankly, the Tigers are severely outmatched in this starting pitcher matchup. Anderson has built valuable experience with four starts in August, but his 5.96, 4.47, 3.19, and 4.50 xFIPs were nothing to write home about, per FanGraphs. 
• After allowing 3 earned runs in back-to-back appearances, Anderson is likely in danger, and Detroit’s bullpen has a 3.82 xERA that ranks 15th over the last 30 days.
• Anderson’s 16.0% home run-to-fly ball rate (HR/FB) and 8.6% barrel rate allowed (29th percentile) add to the concern. Baseball Savant credits the Dodgers with an 8.5% barrel rate (tied for seventh-highest), paired with 1.25 home runs per game (eighth-highest).
• Meanwhile, Skubal’s on a climbing trajectory, tallying 4.85, 3.99, 3.26, and 1.02 xFIPs over his first four starts in Dodger blue. 
• Detroit posted only 3.2 runs per game over its last 10 games, including a .211 batting average (28th) and .276 wOBA (28th) over the last 14 days.

Lock in your Dodgers vs. Tigers prediction on PrizePicks before the first pitch.

Dodgers vs. Tigers Picks, Player Stats for PrizePicks – 8/28/26

Here are the top Dodgers vs. Tigers picks to target on PrizePicks for Friday, August 28. Tonight’s MLB picks for PrizePicks include Tarik Skubal and Freddie Freeman.

Dodgers SP Tarik Skubal vs. Tigers: 7 Strikeouts 

• The Tigers have a 22.5% strikeout rate on the season (12th-highest), and that slightly increases to 22.7% when facing left-handed pitchers.
• Skubal continues to boast elite K numbers, including a 30.9% strikeout rate (94th percentile), 37.2% chase rate (97th percentile), and 32.3% whiff rate (93rd percentile).
• Aiding the two-time Cy Young winner’s chance of stacking Ks, he’s logged 6.0 and 7.0 innings pitched in his last two outings. 
• As mentioned, Detroit has the third-lowest batting average and wOBA over the last 14 days. If the Tigers are struggling to produce at the plate, that should mean a longer start for Skubal, and his 2.74 SIERA helps bring that point home.
• Skubal’s top K% pitch is a changeup (39.6%), and Detroit has the eighth-fewest runs above average against that pitch.
• Following an 11-strikeout performance on August 22, Skubal could be in line for another dominant showing in his first return to Detroit since this month’s trade.d

Add Tarik Skubal to your PrizePicks Lineup now.

{{mlb_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}

Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman vs. Tigers: 5.5 Hitter Fantasy Score

• In the last 30 days, Freddie Freeman has maintained strong numbers with his .303/.343/.343 slash line.
• However, that .343 SLG is down compared to his .458 season-long mark. His .482 xSLG (89th percentile) still points to potential extra-base hits, though.
• As mentioned, Drew Anderson can be had with his 8.6% barrel rate allowed (29th percentile). Further, he’s ceded 4 home runs over his last three starts, including 20.0%, 33.3%, and 25.0% HR/FBs.  
• Freeman bats .329 against four-seam fastballs and .370 when facing curveballs. Anderson features high usage rates for his four-seamer (39.7%) and curveball (23.0%).
• After logging a 6.0 hitter fantasy score per game over his last five contests, Freeman could have enough to surpass Friday’s projection.

Add Freddie Freeman to your PrizePicks Lineup now.

Make Dodgers vs. Tigers Picks on PrizePicks

The Tigers have stumbled of late, and beginning a series against the loaded Dodgers is not helping Detroit’s case. Adding to tonight’s difficult matchup, the Tigers will square off with their former ace starter, Tarik Skubal.

Don’t wait until the first pitch—make your Dodgers vs. Tigers picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.

Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 36 states.

Stay locked in on Playbook for daily MLB predictions, picks, and news every day all the way through the 2026 MLB season.