St. Louis Cardinals vs Detroit Tigers Picks and Predictions May 20th 2025

Tigers vs Cardinals

The Detroit Tigers visit Busch Stadium to face the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, May 20 at 7:15 PM CT. Expect times of clouds and sun with strong thunderstorms possible late, with hail and damaging winds, a high near 81°F and a low around 56°F.

Tarik Skubal’s Length Needed

Reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal (4-2, 2.67 ERA) takes the mound for Detroit, aiming to deliver quality innings and give a beleaguered bullpen some respite. After striking out 11 batters in his last start, he’ll look to rebound from a challenging outing in Boston.

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Opposing Starter Erick Fedde

St. Louis counters with Erick Fedde (3-3, 3.44 ERA), who delivered back-to-back scoreless outings totaling 14 ⅔ innings against Washington and Philadelphia. Fedde’s ability to navigate contact and limit free passes (.184 opponent average) will be crucial against a patient Tigers lineup.

Bullpen Implications

Detroit used an opener and catcher Tomas Nido in relief Monday to protect future arms. A strong start from Skubal could allow A.J. Hinch to lean on traditional late-inning roles rather than extended mop-up, impacting matchups in a tight contest.

X-Factors and Strategy

Watch for Cedric Mullins’s baserunning and power after his three-run homer Monday, and Nolan Arenado’s spot in the middle of St. Louis’s reshuffled order. Weather-delayed action could force managerial adjustments, making quick reads on the radar essential.

Our MLB Betting Picks

Backing Detroit on the money line provides value given Skubal’s ace pedigree and Fedde’s tendency to allow hard contact. Additionally, consider the under on total runs—late storms and bullpen depth questions hint at a controlled, low-scoring affair.