Cleveland Guardians vs Detroit Tigers Prediction, 5/21/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cleveland Guardians vs Detroit Tigers

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026

Location: Comerica Park in Detroit, MI

TV: Detroit SportsNet

Odds/Point Spread: Cleveland (+102) Detroit (-122)

Comerica Park is the site where the Detroit Tigers (20-29) will go up against the Cleveland Guardians (28-22) on Thursday. The odds on this game have the Guardians at +102 while the Tigers are coming in at -122. The total is set at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Joey Cantillo and Casey Mize.

As a unit, the Cleveland Guardians are earning 4.4 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 14th in MLB. They have earned a total of 222 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .327. The Guardians have earned 78 doubles as a team and have knocked 52 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accounted for 212 RBI's and 377 hits for the year, while their average at the plate sits at .231. Cleveland owns a slugging percentage of .379 and have struck out 370 times, while taking a walk on 220 occasions.

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The Guardians have a team ERA of 3.78 this season (9th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 462 hitters. Guardians pitchers have given up 58 home runs in addition to 202 total runs (10th in MLB). They have walked 172 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.01 as a squad this year. Cleveland has given up 391 base hits (8.0 per 9 innings) and 186 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 2.69 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.27.

The Guardians have sent 163 relievers to the hill for the year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 75 runners so far this season and 25.3% of them crossing the plate. The relief pitchers have earned 41 holds on the year (2nd in MLB). Guardians relief pitchers have come into the game with runners on 46 times in addition to having 56 appearances in high leverage situations. They have 17 saves this year and have not converted 4 of their 21 save opportunities. The Guardians relievers have accumulated a save rate of 81.0% and have come into the game in 63 save situations.

The Cleveland Guardians have accumulated 1,327 putouts on the year, in addition to 385 assists and 19 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .989 which ranks 7th in MLB, and they have turned 38 double plays. The Guardians have transformed 70.1% of balls hit into play into outs in their 3,981 innings, which has them ranked 16th in MLB.

Cantillo (10-8 career record) holds a FIP of 3.56 and he has gone up against 774 batters during his time in the majors. He has conceded 157 hits (7.7 hits per 9 innings) and has had 81 free passes. His ERA is 3.62 (74 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.293. Cantillo has taken the mound for 184 innings and has earned 197 K's during his MLB career.

Detroit has compiled 43 home runs for the season as well as 182 runs batted in. They have hit 85 two-baggers, while walking 186 times as well as scoring 193 runs. The Detroit Tigers have accounted for an OBP of .321 and a batting average of .238 on the year. The Tigers hold a slugging % of .378 and they score 3.94 runs per outing (26th in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 419 occasions (10th in baseball) and have 386 hits.

The Detroit pitching staff have conceded 213 runs so far this year while holding a team ERA of 4.03 (191 earned runs conceded). They have conceded 43 long balls and they surrender 4.50 runs per 9 innings (15th in MLB). The Tigers have a WHIP of 1.295 in addition to having a FIP of 3.89 as a staff over the course of the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 8.30 (392 strikeouts vs 169 walks). They sit at 14th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 383.

With 37 save situations, the Tigers have tallied 17 holds and also 10 blown saves. Detroit has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 19 save chances and they have come away with 9 saves. Detroit relievers have an inherited score percentage of 35.1% out of their 94 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 41 times in high leverage situations in addition to 59 occasions with runners on. They rank 27th in MLB with a save percentage of 47.4%, and they have dispatched 152 relief pitchers onto the field for the year.

In 3,837 innings played, the Tigers have earned a defensive efficiency of 70.0% (17th in baseball). The Detroit Tigers have gotten 43 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .984 (23rd in pro baseball). The Tigers have recorded 422 assists, 27 errors and have notched a total of 1,279 putouts during this campaign.

In his career, Mize has conceded 474 base knocks while totaling 404 punch outs in 477 innings pitched. Mize (25-27 win-loss mark in his career) is the owner of a 4.06 earned run average while allowing 8.9 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed a total of 215 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.270 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.0. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.06 and he has faced 2,016 batters so far in his MLB career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Cleveland (+102)

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