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Philadelphia Phillies vs Detroit Tigers August 3rd 2025
The Detroit Tigers will play against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The game is set for Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 7:10 PM. Fans can watch the game on ESPN.
The Tigers have a record of 65-47 and are first in the AL Central. They recently won their last game. The Phillies hold a 62-48 record and are second in the NL East. They lost their last game. The weather forecast is clear with a warm day and calm crosswind.
Tigers vs Phillies Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
- Venue: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA
- Date: Sunday, August 3, 2025
- Betting Odds: Tigers Moneyline +158, Phillies Moneyline -188, Tigers Runline +1.5 (-139), Phillies Runline -1.5 (+116), Total Over 8.0 (-117), Total Under 8.0 (-104)
The Tigers Can Win If…
The Detroit Tigers are coming off a 7-5 win against the Philadelphia Phillies. Tarik Skubal pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and striking out ten. Javier Báez and Colt Keith both hit home runs, contributing to the Tigers’ offensive success.
The Tigers have been strong at the plate this season. They rank 7th in slugging percentage and home runs, with 144 homers so far. This power hitting could be key in their upcoming game.
Charlie Morton will take the mound for the Tigers. Although his ERA is 5.42, the Tigers’ offense has shown they can provide run support. With players like Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene leading the lineup, the Tigers have a chance to secure another victory.
The Phillies Can Win If…
The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to bounce back after a 7-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Bryce Harper stood out with a strong performance, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Zack Wheeler pitched six innings, striking out ten batters, showing his ability to dominate on the mound.
The Phillies have a strong batting lineup, ranking 4th in batting average at .254 and 5th in on-base percentage at .325. Kyle Schwarber leads the team with 37 home runs, ranking 3rd in the league. This power at the plate gives them a good chance to put up runs against any opponent.
Cristopher Sánchez will start for the Phillies, boasting an impressive 2.55 ERA and a 9-3 record. The Phillies also lead the league in quality starts with 58, showing their starting rotation’s consistency. With Sánchez on the mound, the Phillies have a solid chance to control the game from the start.
The Lean
The Phillies are favored with a moneyline of -188. Given their stronger batting average and on-base percentage, they have an edge over the Tigers. My model projects the Phillies to win with a score of 5-3, making them the recommended pick.
The total for the game is set at 8.0 runs. Both teams have solid pitching, with ERAs ranked in the top 10. My model projects a total score of 8 runs, so the recommendation is to take the under at 8.0 (-104).
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A Storybook Reunion: Charlie Morton to Make Tigers Debut in Finale vs. Phillies
It is a reunion years in the making, a story of a battle-tested veteran joining a first-place team for a championship push, led by the very same manager with whom he reached the pinnacle of the sport. The Detroit Tigers, fresh off acquiring right-hander Charlie Morton just before the trade deadline, will waste no time putting their new weapon to use. Morton will make his Tigers debut on Sunday night in the finale of a hard-fought three-game series against the host Philadelphia Phillies. For the American League-leading Tigers, it’s a chance to add a veteran arm with championship pedigree. For Morton, it’s a chance to write another chapter in a remarkable career, under the guidance of a familiar and trusted leader.
A Storybook Reunion
The connection between Charlie Morton and Detroit’s manager, A.J. Hinch, is a deep one, forged in the fires of a World Series run. Morton was a key member of the Houston Astros rotation when Hinch managed that team to the 2017 World Series title. It was Morton on the mound, pitching the final four innings in relief, who recorded the final out of Game 7 against the Dodgers to secure the championship. Now, eight years later, they are reunited in Detroit with the same goal. The Tigers’ front office made the move to acquire the 41-year-old not just for what he can do on the mound, but for the invaluable experience and presence he brings to a clubhouse with high expectations.
“His presence alone will be really good for this team,” Hinch said. “He’s steady. He never gets too high or too low. He’s done it, seen it, experienced it. He’s gotten some of the most important outs.”
“We like Charlie because he’s battle-tested,” added Tigers general manager Scott Harris. “He’s pitched for A.J. before and he really endorsed him.”
A look at the numbers shows two of the best teams in baseball, both of whom have strengthened their rosters for the stretch run.
| Team | Record | Division Standing | Runs Per Game | Team ERA |
| Detroit Tigers | 71-46 | 1st in AL Central | 4.9 | 3.50 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 66-51 | 1st in NL East | 5.0 | 3.85 |
A Tale of Two Seasons for Morton
The Tigers are getting Morton at the perfect time. His 2025 season has been a true tale of two halves. He began the year with the Baltimore Orioles and was, by his own admission, terrible. He had an 0-7 record with a sky-high 9.38 ERA in his first nine appearances. But after a brief stint in the bullpen, Morton returned to the rotation and completely turned his season around. In his last 11 starts with the Orioles, he went a remarkable 7-1 with a 3.88 ERA, looking like the dominant pitcher of old.
“He’s been on quite a good run,” Harris said of Morton’s resurgence. “His top-line performance (numbers) are a little misleading. Since the end of April, he’s been on a really good run, sub-4.00 ERA and throwing a ton of strikes with a ton of swing and miss.”
The Model of Consistency: Cristopher Sanchez
While Morton is making his debut, the Phillies will counter with a pitcher who has been the model of consistency all season. Left-hander Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 2.55 ERA) has emerged as a true co-ace for the Philadelphia staff. While his incredible streak of nine consecutive quality starts was snapped in his last outing, he still battled to give his team a chance to win. Manager Rob Thomson noted that even though Sanchez gave up four runs, he seemed to find his best stuff late in the game. “The fifth, sixth and seventh, he turned it back on, and he had the finish back to his pitches,” Thomson said. His development into a reliable, top-of-the-rotation arm has been a massive reason for the Phillies’ success this year.
The Pitching Matchup: A Deeper Look
Sunday night’s game features a fantastic duel between two pitchers at different points in their journey. Morton is the grizzled veteran looking to make a great first impression with his new team, while Sanchez is the young ace trying to start a new streak of dominance. The scores and odds for this matchup will be incredibly tight.
| Pitcher | W-L (2025) | ERA (2025) | Career vs. Opponent |
| Charlie Morton (DET) | 7-8 | 5.42 | 5-7, 4.81 ERA |
| Cristopher Sanchez (PHI) | 9-3 | 2.55 | No Appearances |
The Battle of the Bullpens
This series has been a showcase of two teams that made major moves to bolster their bullpens at the trade deadline. The Phillies’ new closer, Jhoan Duran, saved the opener on Friday. The Tigers’ new closer, Kyle Finnegan, saved their victory on Saturday. The back end of the bullpen will be a major factor in this rubber match, a topic often explored in our expert betting guide. For full box scores of the first two games, you can check the official MLB game results. For more in-depth analysis of other games, you can view all of our MLB previews. To see who our experts are backing, check out our daily MLB picks. To get access to even more premium content and betting tools, you can register for an account today.
