Detroit Tigers vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 03/30/26

Justin Verlander is set to make his first start donning a Tiger uniform since 2017 when he takes the mound at Chase Field on Monday night against the Diamondbacks. Verlander put together a storied tenure with Detroit from 2005-17 before winning multiple World Series title with the Astros while also pitching for the Mets and Giants in recent seasons. Verlander is still more than capable of being an effective starter. However, it’s tough to know what to expect early on this season. Verlander has a 1.37 WHIP and 211 strikeouts in 242.1 innings over the last 2 seasons. He’s not going to post the jaw-dropping numbers from 5-7 years ago with Houston, and I’m being cautious with my early-season expectations for the 43 year old right-hander.

Opposing Verlander on the mound for Arizona is right-hander Mike Soroka. The 28-year-old has spent time with 4 different teams in the last 2 seasons, and is now set to make his first start with Arizona. He has a tough matchup on his hands, as Detroit’s offense is off to a strong start in 2026. Rookie Kevin McGonigle is raising eyebrows with his sensational start, and his presence gives Detroit’s lineup a much higher ceiling. The Tigers scored 13 runs over their first 2 games against the Padres before getting shut out in the series finale. Coming off of that performance, I expect Detroit to be aggressive in the box, and they should be able to give Soroka some problems. Make it a small play, but consider the over.

Tigers vs Diamondbacks prediction: Over 9 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.