Red Sox vs Tigers Pick: Shaky BoSox Visit Motown Amid Drama (May 12)

• For our Red Sox vs Tigers pick, we analyze the BoSox (22-20, 2nd in the AL East) visiting soaring Detroit (26-15, 1st in the AL East)
• The BoSox are dealing with familiar infighting as Rafael Devers is refusing the organization’s requests to change defensive positions
• Detroit has been one of MLB‘s hottest teams, winning 8 of 11
• The Red Sox start Tanner Houck; the Tigers start rookie Jackson Jobe

Devers’ Drama Dominates Red Sox Organization

Rafael Devers is in year 2 of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract. When the Red Sox signed star third baseman Alex Bregman away from the Astros, they asked Devers to move from third base to become the team’s designated hitter. He resisted and outright refused in spring training before eventually acquiescing.

Now, after first baseman Tristan Casas blew out his knee and was lost for the season, the club wanted Devers to move to first base. He said no and criticized GM Craig Breslow. The contentiousness got so bad that owner John Henry flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and Breslow. Apparently, the issue has been quashed for the moment, but no resolution has been reached.

Devers homered in Sunday’s victory over the Royals.

The Red Sox have always been a cauldron of tension, whether they were World Series contenders, finishing in last place, or somewhere in between, so this is no surprise. Still, it is a problem that needs a resolution, particularly for a team that had high expectations coming into the season and is fighting to stay above .500.

Against Detroit, Tanner Houck starts. Houck was an All-Star in 2024, but in 2025, he has an ERA north of 6. Much of that is due to a horrific start against the Rays in which he surrendered 11 earned runs in 2.1 innings. In his last start against the Rangers, he gave up 2 earned runs and 6 hits in 4.2 innings.

Gleyber Torres is the only Tigers hitter with an extensive history against Houck. He is 7 for 22 with 2 doubles and a home run.

Compared to the Red Sox, the Tigers Are a Utopian Society

The Tigers are riding high. After a surprise run to the ALDS in 2024, they are becoming a trendy World Series pick because of their young pitching and improved offense. Jackson Jobe is one of those pitchers, and he is getting the start against the Red Sox.

Jobe pitched in the playoffs last season, but is still a rookie. He has been up and down so far this season with a 4.88 ERA. In his last start against the horrid Rockies, he gave up 6 earned runs in 3.2 innings, including 2 home runs.

He has never faced the Red Sox.

After all the vitriol the Tigers’ Javier Baez received for his atrocious and seemingly uninterested showing in a Detroit uniform over his first three seasons with the team, he might be heading for an All-Star berth in 2025. He is batting .300 with a .791 OPS and is playing team-oriented defense at several positions.

The Tigers also have three hitters with at least 9 homers. Spencer Torkelson has 10, Kerry Carpenter and Riley Green have 9. The bullpen has been diverse and excellent. Tommy Kahnle has an ERA of 0.61. Will Vest has a 2.12 ERA and 5 saves.

Red Sox vs Tigers Pick: Detroit Will Take the Win Behind Jobe

Despite the off-field issues the Red Sox are dealing with, their main problem has been inconsistency. Houck has been mediocre, and the team seems to win one and lose one as a means of consistency of mediocrity. Jobe and the Tigers will take them in the first game of this series in Detroit.