The Detroit Tigers currently own the best record in the American League as they sit at 22-13. They trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 1.5 games for the best record in all of baseball. They were set to start a three-game series against one of the worst teams in baseball in the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies have won only six games this season and currently sit at 6-28 this season. The Tigers have done it all this season with pitching and with the bats.
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Starting Pitching
The Tigers have had a rotation this season of Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Reese Olson, Casey Mize, and Jackson Jobe. In the few doubleheaders they’ve used Keider Montero as a starter. A far cry from last season, where they used spot starters here and there throughout the season. The six starters this season have combined to go 15-10. They post a 3.19 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts in 191.2 innings. The main guy in the rotation hasn’t been the reigning Cy Young in Tarik Skubal, but Casey Mize. Mize is 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. Skubal has gone 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and 48 strikeouts in 40.2 innings. Jobe the rookie, through five starts, is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Lineup
The Tigers’ offense is averaging 5.1 runs per game this season. Two names have stood out that many didn’t expect. First is Spencer Torkelson, who looks like the top draft pick he was expected to be, hitting .234 with a .889 OPS. He leads the team in all five categories as he has eight doubles, ten home runs, 27 RBI, 25 runs scored, and 20 walks. Javier Baez is the other one who, due to injuries, has taken over Center Field. In 28 games, he’s hitting .309 with a .829 OPS. He has seven doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI, 14 runs scored, a stolen base, and four walks.
Bullpen
Free Agent signee Tommy Kahnle leads the team in saves with five as he posts a 0.71 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in 12.2 innings. Brant Hurter has two saves as well with a 2.50 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 18 innings. The Tigers, to this point, have pushed the right buttons in the bullpen, which is something that carried them in their 2024 postseason run.
Wrap Up
It’s obviously a long way to go in the 2025 season with 135 games to go, but the Tigers seem to be riding the momentum they had in the 2024 season. They will have a big test upcoming with a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at home. Another series to watch is at the end of the month when they head to Kansas City for a three-game series against the Royals, who, as of now, have won 13 of their last 15. They are 8-2 against the American League Central to this point in the season. The Tigers post a run differential of +63, and this team is gritty and should have all Detroit fans thinking winning the American League Central and another postseason run in 2025.
