Cubs vs. Tigers: Exciting Baseball Matchups Preview
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
Saturday Spotlight: Jameson Taillon of the Chicago Cubs vs. Keider Montero of the Detroit Tigers
The first-place Cubs head to Detroit for an underrated interleague clash with the surging Tigers, as Taillon takes the mound opposite young flamethrower Montero. While these clubs might not headline national broadcasts like the Los Angeles Dodgers or the New York Yankees, both are building playoff-worthy resumes—making this a sneaky-good June series.
Taillon, fresh off a dominant 7-inning performance, has rebounded nicely after a shaky April. He’s provided a steadying veteran presence while the Cubs await the return of Shota Imanaga, expected back later this month.
Meanwhile, Montero is an emerging talent with swing-and-miss stuff. While he’s occasionally erratic, his bat-missing arsenal and soft-contact tendencies have kept Detroit competitive in tight games.
📈 Betting Breakdown: Lines, Totals & Picks
Moneyline:
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Cubs: -120
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Tigers: +100
Run Line:
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Cubs -1.5 (+140)
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Tigers +1.5 (-160)
Total Runs: 8.5 (Over -105 / Under -115)
🧠 Trends & Insights:
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Cubs are 7-2 in Taillon’s last 9 starts
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Tigers are 4-1 in Montero’s last 5 home outings
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The Under has hit in 6 of the Cubs’ last 8 road games
💰 Best Bets for Saturday
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🔒 Under 8.5 Runs (-115)
Both pitchers are in solid form, and Comerica Park suppresses offense. A 4–3 style game feels right. -
📊 Ian Happ Over 1.5 Total Bases (+120)
Happ is heating up in June and has excellent splits against right-handers who rely on fastballs. -
🎯 Longshot: Cubs to Win by 1 Run (+550)
With two evenly matched teams and a history of close games in Detroit, this is worth a sprinkle for plus money.
👀 Sunday Preview: Cade Horton of the Cubs vs. Jack Flaherty of the Tigers
Sunday’s finale could be a decider between Horton, the Cubs’ rising righty, and Flaherty, Detroit’s veteran anchor. Horton’s blend of mid-90s velocity and whiff-heavy secondary pitches makes him one of the most exciting young arms to watch in 2025. He’s still widely available in many fantasy leagues—likely the last chance to stash before the breakout wave hits.
Flaherty has rebounded in his second Detroit stint, commanding the zone and anchoring the Tigers’ rotation. He brings a slight edge in experience, but Horton’s upside looms large.
🧢 Fantasy Spotlight: Who to Watch
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Taillon: Solid stream for Saturday in 12+ team leagues. Detroit struggles against righties.
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Montero: Deep-league stash. Risky against Chicago’s bats, but long-term upside is intriguing.
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Horton: Must-add in all formats. This weekend might be his fantasy coming-out party.
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Flaherty: Locked in as a two-start option next week. Reliable with top-40 SP upside.
🏟️ Could This Be a Postseason Preview?
Calling it a World Series preview may be premature, but both clubs have October aspirations:
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Cubs: Lead the NL Central despite rotation injuries. Bullpen performance and lineup depth are driving the success.
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Tigers: Quietly climbing the AL Central behind breakout pitching and improved run prevention.
If these trends hold, both could sneak into the Wild Card or more.
🔚 Final Thoughts
This Cubs-Tigers series may fly under the national radar, but it’s loaded with betting value, fantasy upside, and potential playoff implications.
Play the Under on Saturday, monitor Cade Horton on Sunday, and don’t underestimate Detroit’s AL Central push.
You can read all about what’s going on in Major League Baseball at SportsGrid.com.
