The Detroit Tigers finished off a four-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox yesterday to get back to .500 as they outscored them 33-13, they now sit nine games back in the American League Central, but they are now 6.5 games back for the third and final Wild Card spot. The Tigers are now 7-3 in their last ten and are 11-4 in their last 15, in that stretch they have the fourth-best record, the second-best team ERA, the third-best FIP, the third-best WHIP, the tenth-best average, the tenth best slugging percentage, the 11th best wRC+. The names that have contributed over this stretch are Colt Keith who in the last 15 games is hitting .362 with a .849 OPS, nine RBI, and six runs scored, Zach McKinstry whose hitting .324 with a .878 OPS, Matt Vierling who is hitting .308 with a .936 OPS, Spencer Torkelson who has a .890 OPS, and Kerry Carpenter whose providing the power with a .270 average, a .930 OPS with four home runs, and eight RBI. On the mound, the obvious is Tarik Skubal who has made three starts going 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA, a 1.81 FIP, a 1.12 WHIP, and an 11.7 K/9, also Keider Montero who has made three starts also going 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA, a 3.30 FIP, a 1.40 WHIP, and a 6.6 K/9. In the bullpen Shelby Miller, Jason Foley, and Tyler Holton have looked great, Miller in eight games has a 0.00 ERA, a 0.40 FIP, a 0.35 WHIP, and a 12.5 K/9, Foley has a 0.00 ERA, a 4.29 FIP, a 0.75 WHIP, and a 5.1 K/9, and finally Holton has a 0.00 ERA, a 1.77 FIP, a 0.64 WHIP, and a 7.7 K/9. It’s hard to see it happening but could the Tigers actually make a run and make the postseason after selling off pieces at the trade deadline in Carson Kelly, Andrew Chafin, Mark Canha, and Jack Flaherty?
The Schedule
The Tigers have 30 games left to end the season and they will face the Los Angeles Angels three times, Boston Red Sox three times, San Diego Padres three times, Oakland A’s three times, Colorado Rockies three times, Baltimore Orioles six times, Kansas City Royals three times, Tampa Bay Rays three times, and the Chicago White Sox three times. Of those teams they face only three of them are in a playoff spot, and those teams combine for a record of 547-638 mostly because of the White Sox but that’s a losing record and could give Detroit a chance. The Royals have tough matchups over the next two weeks, but they seem to keep winning which turns to the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins who have some tough series coming up and could open the door for Detroit as well as facing teams that are ahead of them in the Red Sox who they face this weekend and Boston has been struggling as of late as they dropped their fifth straight game last night opening a chance for Detroit to pass them after this weekend. The Royals series also if Kansas City slips up going forward could be a big series and give the Tigers a chance.
Lineup
It was announced yesterday that Javier Baez is done for the season as he undergoes hip surgery. Losing Baez who this season in 80 games hit .184 with a .516 OPS, he had 37 RBI, and 25 runs scored. Losing him opens up a spot for Trey Sweeney who since being called up has hit .217 with a .609 OPS with three RBI, and two runs scored in seven games. Having this happen and potentially playing meaningful games could benefit the Tigers future as well with prospects like Keith, Sweeney, Jace Jung, and Dillon Dingler all getting experience. Spencer Torkelson has also looked good since being recalled as he tried to figure out his swing, since rejoining the Tigers he’s hitting .290 with a .887 OPS, six RBI, and six runs scored. All good signs moving forward.
Healthy Arms
Since the trade deadline it’s been Tarik Skubal and Keider Montero as the primary starting pitchers as Beau Brieske, Alex Faedo, Tyler Holton, and Brennan Hanifee, Ty Madden have made starts. Now the rotation will slowly start to get healthy as Casey Mize is set to return on Friday and will start the series opener against the Red Sox, Reese Olson is also going to be starting a rehab assignment shortly so with that the Tigers could have a deep pitching rotation which has already pitched well posting a 3.00 ERA which is sixth best in baseball in that stretch, a 2.94 FIP third best in baseball, and a 9.4 K/9 which is sixth best in baseball.
Wrap Up
It’s a total longshot but the Tigers do have a chance to make a run and be a team that sneaks into the postseason much like the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers did last season and look where they went. This is the most wide-open season in baseball in quite some time and the way they have been playing they are a good team to watch, they just might be able to pull off the unthinkable and sneak in. Now if they can’t it’s been fun to see what the young prospects can do and can be a solid sight for 2025 as they continue to progress and get better and could even add a piece or two to get them over that hump and be a top team going forward like they were in the 2010s.
