Detroit Tigers vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 7/21/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Detroit Tigers vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Detroit (+106) Chicago (-128)

The Detroit Tigers (46-53) are en route to Wrigley Field on Tuesday where they will take on the Chicago Cubs (56-43). The moneyline on this contest has Detroit at +106 while Chicago is coming in at -128. The total comes in at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers are Framber Valdez and David Peterson.

The Tigers have hit 144 doubles as a team and have hit 119 balls out of the park. Detroit is slugging .398 and have struck out 864 times, while taking a walk on 350 occasions. As a squad, the Detroit Tigers are scoring 4.2 runs per game, which has them at 22nd in the league. They have accrued 398 runs batted in as well as 771 hits for the year, while their team batting average sits at .234. They have notched a total of 418 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .312.

Get all of our MLB Expert Picks

Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.83 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.21. Tigers pitchers have given up 95 home runs and 387 total runs (6th in the league). Detroit has conceded 764 hits (7.9 per 9 innings) and 347 earned runs. The Tigers have an earned run average of 3.58 over the course of the season (5th in the league), and they have struck out 829 hitters. They have walked 293 opposing players and their FIP comes in at 3.77 as a squad on the campaign.

Tigers pitchers have come into the game with players on base 108 times in addition to having 77 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers are sitting with 42 holds on the campaign (24th in MLB). The Tigers relievers have a save rate of 47.4% and have entered the game in 82 save situations. They have accumulated 18 saves so far this season and have missed out on 20 of their 38 chances to save the game. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 167 runners for the season with 26.9% of those runners crossing home plate. The Tigers have sent 302 relievers to the mound so far this year.

The Tigers have transformed 70.9% of balls in play into outs out of 7,854 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 8th in baseball. The Detroit Tigers have a tally of 2,618 putouts this season, as well as 859 assists and 44 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .988 which ranks 8th in baseball, and have a total of 69 double plays.

Valdez (86-58 record in his career) holds a FIP of 3.38 while he has faced 4,952 opposing hitters during his time in the majors. He has surrendered 1,018 base hits (7.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 425 walks. His ERA is 3.43 (453 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.215. Valdez has taken the ball for 1,187 innings and is sitting with 1,140 punch outs in his career.

The Chicago Cubs have accounted for a team OBP of .337 and a team batting average of .245 for the year. They have struck out on 837 occasions (13th in the league) and have accounted for 827 hits. Chicago has 123 home runs so far this year to go along with 468 RBIs. The Cubs hold a slugging percentage of .412 and they are earning 5.07 runs per contest (4th in the league). They have put up 160 two-baggers, while getting a free base 431 times and putting up 502 runs.

The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.273 in addition to having a FIP of 4.75 as a unit over the course of the season. They come in at 18th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 817. The Chicago pitching staff have allowed 440 runs this season and come in with a team ERA of 4.27 (418 earned runs allowed). Their strikeout to walk ratio is 7.90 (769 strikeouts against 303 bases on balls). They have surrendered 151 dingers and they allow 4.50 runs per 9 innings (13th in baseball).

They are currently ranked 26th in baseball with a save rate of 54.1%, and they have sent 324 relievers to the hill for the season. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill 94 times in high leverage situations and on 99 occasions with base runners. Sitting with 79 save situations, the Cubs have 36 holds in addition to 17 blown saves. Chicago has called on relievers to take the mound in 37 save opportunities and they have earned 20 saves. Chicago relievers have an inherited score percentage of 31.7% out of their 145 inherited runners.

The Chicago Cubs have turned 77 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .989 (4th in MLB). The Cubs have accrued 918 assists, 39 errors and have accounted for 2,641 putouts on the season. In 7,923 innings on the diamond, the Cubs are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 71.7% (3rd in MLB).

So far in his pro baseball career, Peterson has given up 609 base knocks and he has 621 punch outs in 636 frames. He has surrendered a total of 298 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.380 and having a FIP of 4.2. His K/BB ratio is 2.31 and he has gone up against 2,734 batters during his pro baseball career. Peterson (38-31 career record) has earned a 4.21 earned run average and has conceded 8.6 hits per 9 innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Detroit (+106)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.